Traditional Vietnamese dance
Encyclopedia
Traditional Vietnamese dance includes several different forms. These include: dance as performed in Vietnamese theatre and opera
, dances performed at festivals, and royal dances of the imperial court. Dance is thought to have been an integral part of Vietnamese culture since ancient times, as depicted by engravings found on Dong Son drums.
Vietnam
is a diverse country with 54 different ethnic groups, with the ethnic Vietnamese (known as Kinh) making up the majority of the population. This article mainly focuses on the traditional dances of the ethnic Vietnamese, although each of the many ethnic minorities of Vietnam have their own rich culture and dance styles.
and Vietnamese music are intertwined with each other, as well as with Vietnamese dance. Popular theatre forms such as Hát tuồng, Hát chèo
, and Cải lương
all often feature dance, however these dances are performed in a liberal manner without set rules, unlike other more specific dance styles.
was imported from China into Vietnamese culture where it developed its own distinct style. It is performed primarily at traditional festivals such as Tết
(Lunar new year) and Tết trung thu (Mid-Autumn Festival
), but also during other occasions such as the opening of a new business. The lion dance is highly symbolic, supposedly used to ward off evil spirits. There are an abundance of styles and the lion dances are typically accompanied by martial arts
and acrobatics
.
.
These dances require great skill and the dancers are often dressed in extravagant costumes. Currently, they are performed at festivals in Huế or other special (often televised) occasions, in order to promote the traditional arts. Some of the most popular dances include (among others):
Vietnamese theatre
Theater of Vietnam comprises many traditional forms of drama which survive and retain their popularity to varying degrees.-Introduction:Vietnamese theater is strongly influenced by Chinese opera and other forms, and includes genres like Hát tuồng, Hát chèo and Cải lương.-Hát chèo:Widely believed to...
, dances performed at festivals, and royal dances of the imperial court. Dance is thought to have been an integral part of Vietnamese culture since ancient times, as depicted by engravings found on Dong Son drums.
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
is a diverse country with 54 different ethnic groups, with the ethnic Vietnamese (known as Kinh) making up the majority of the population. This article mainly focuses on the traditional dances of the ethnic Vietnamese, although each of the many ethnic minorities of Vietnam have their own rich culture and dance styles.
Dancing in Vietnamese theatre
Much of Vietnamese theatreVietnamese theatre
Theater of Vietnam comprises many traditional forms of drama which survive and retain their popularity to varying degrees.-Introduction:Vietnamese theater is strongly influenced by Chinese opera and other forms, and includes genres like Hát tuồng, Hát chèo and Cải lương.-Hát chèo:Widely believed to...
and Vietnamese music are intertwined with each other, as well as with Vietnamese dance. Popular theatre forms such as Hát tuồng, Hát chèo
Hat cheo
Chèo is a form of generally satirical musical theatre, often encompassing dance, traditionally performed by Vietnamese peasants in northern Vietnam...
, and Cải lương
Cai luong
Tuồng cải lương or cải lương in short, which can be roughly translated as "reformed theater" or "renovated theater" in English, is a form of modern folk opera in Vietnam...
all often feature dance, however these dances are performed in a liberal manner without set rules, unlike other more specific dance styles.
Dances performed at festivals and important occasions
The lion danceLion dance
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people...
was imported from China into Vietnamese culture where it developed its own distinct style. It is performed primarily at traditional festivals such as Tết
Tet
Tet can mean:*Tết or Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese new year**Tet Offensive, a military campaign that began in 1968*Têt in Roussillon, France*Equal temperament, abbreviated as 12-TET, 19-TET and so on...
(Lunar new year) and Tết trung thu (Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
), but also during other occasions such as the opening of a new business. The lion dance is highly symbolic, supposedly used to ward off evil spirits. There are an abundance of styles and the lion dances are typically accompanied by martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
.
Imperial court dances
Accompanied with Nhã nhạc (court music of the Trần Dynasty to the Nguyễn Dynasty) were the intricate dances of the Vietnamese Imperial court. While assuredly court dances existed before nhã nhạc in particular emerged, it is the Nguyễn Dynasty form that is still highly preserved today, and has been declared along with the whole of nhã nhạc as an Intangible cultural heritageMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural...
.
These dances require great skill and the dancers are often dressed in extravagant costumes. Currently, they are performed at festivals in Huế or other special (often televised) occasions, in order to promote the traditional arts. Some of the most popular dances include (among others):
- Fan dance
- Lantern dance
- Lotus dance
- Flag dance
- Platter dance
- Candle dance
- Incense dance
- Hat dance
- Scarf dance