A mass performance of Xoe Thai dance in Yen Bai province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Xoe dance is a unique art form in the cultural and religious life of the Thai ethnic group in Nghia Lo town of Yen Bai province in particular and the northwestern region in general.
With the art of Xoe dance recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Thai ethnic minorities and people of other ethnic groups in Yen Bai province are determined to make every effort to preserve and further promote the art in the contemporary life.
Special cultural feature of Thai ethnic minorities in northwestern region
From ancient times, the Thai people in Muong Lo have had folk songs as follows: “Without Xoe, crops cannot grow well/ Without Xoe, harvest will fail/ Without Xoe, flowers will become withered/ Without Xoe, boys and girls cannot fall into love with each other.”
The art of Xoe dance symbolises the beauty, containing the artistic values of dance, music, singing, costumes, cuisine and more importantly, the culture of the Thai community. It is a unique form of traditional dancing imbued with cultural identity of Thai people in northwestern provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Yen Bai.
With movements describing human daily-life activities, Xoe has long been an indispensable part in the Thai’s cultural and spiritual life. It is performed at all important events of the Thai, ranging from weddings and funerals to village festivals and community cultural activities. Xoe music conveys the Thai’s worldviews and their outlook on life in heaven, on earth, and of the deities. Xoe also expressed Thai people’s wishes for help and blessing from the deities for a peaceful and prosperous life.
The art of Xoe dance was born in the working process of Thai ethnic people, gradually becoming a dance that unites ethnic groups in the northwest highlands.
Meritorious Artisan Lo Van Bien from Cang Na hamlet, Trung Tam ward, Nghia Lo town, Yen Bai province, who has wholeheartedly devoted himself to the study of Thai culture, said that living amidst majestic nature and having a diligent and creative spirit in the conquest of nature, Thai ethnic minority people often held hands together and danced around a fire to celebrate their completion of a major work. Xoe dances were formed and developed from there. Xoe has been known as “Xe kham khe” (hand-held dance), which was arisen during the ethnic minority people’s labour, daily life, customs and festivals.
Many Xoe dances simulate their forefathers’ steps to clear the land and fields, plant rice, collect water, throw handkerchiefs and offer wine. All of them describe vividly the reality of life and express the aspirations and dreams of Thai ethnic people in the north-western region.
The Thai people have six ancient Xoe dances, which is the origin of the folk-dance art of the Thai people. The most basic dance is "kham khan moi lau" - an invitation to neighbours to drink rice wine. This is a Xoe dance showing the culture in communication and behaviour of the Thai ethnic group. According to the Thai people's concept, anyone who comes to visit the house is welcomed very respectfully and sincerely.
The second is the "pha xi", a dance that shows the solidarity of the Thai community and the third, also the most jubilant and bustling Xoe dance, is the "nhom khan" or the tossing scarfs dance. Born with the development of cotton-weaving, it praises the people’s creative labour results.
The other three are ‘kham khen’ (holding hands), which illustrates solidarity and cohesion in the community; ‘don hon’ (stepping up and down), conveying a message that everyone should stay with strong beliefs despite ups and downs in life; and ‘om lom top mu’ (clapping hands while walking in a circle), which represents joy and happiness at the end of a celebration.
Xoe dances may be divided into three main types - ritual, circle and presentational. The ritual and presentational Xoe are often named after props used during the performances such as Xoe khan (dance with scarves), Xoe non (dance with conical hats), Xoe quat (dance with fans), Xoe sap (dance with bamboo poles), Xoe qua nhac (dance with small copper balls), Xoe gay (dance with sticks), and Xoe hoa (dance with flowers).
The most popular form of Xoe is circle Xoe, a collective dance which is usually performed in festivals such as the lunar New Year. Dancers stand in a circle, hand in hand, move to the sound of traditional music in a friendly, happy and sociable atmosphere. The circle will be gradually expanded when more people join the dance.
Preserving and promoting the value of Xoe Thai art
Women perform the Xoe dance in Nam Hang commune of Nam Nhun district, Lai Chau province. (Photo: VNA) The art of Xoe Thai dance has been handed down among generations and community members, regardless of age or gender. Practitioners of Xoe dances can learn from each other to rhythmically engage with the music.
In families of Thai ethnic people, children learn Xoe dances from their grandparents and parents when they participate in traditional rituals, weddings, celebrations, and festivals. The shamans have handed down the practice of Xoe dances to their children, grandchildren, and their successors.
Since the 1990s, Thai ethnic communities in the four provinces have taken measures to protect the art of Xoe Thai dance, including establishing Xoe dance art troupes, encouraging artisans and local researchers to make records and publish documents on the history and development of Xoe Thai, as well as types of Xoe dances, their settings, and cultural forms related to Xoe Thai. Folklore artisans, and community members who have certain knowledge and understanding about Xoe Thai have also been invited to teach Xoe dances to younger generations, including preschool children and students at high schools and art schools.
Many individuals have actively joined hands to revitalise ancient Xoe Thai dances, which they have learned from their grandparents and parents. They include 86-year-old Lo Van Lanh in Yen Bai province, who opened classes to teach how to play ‘tinh tau’ (gourd lute) and ‘khen’ (pan-pipe), and 56-year-old Do Thi Tac in Lai Chau province, who spent her own money to build a house on stilts to display Thai cultural heritages and teach Xoe Thai to locals in Than Uyen town.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised Xoe dance as the national intangible cultural heritage in 2013 and 2015.
In 2015 and 2019, the President presented the “Meritorious Artisan” title to nine artisans in four provinces for performing arts related to Xoe dance.
At the same time, the People's Committees of the four provinces approved a number of projects to collect and popularise several Xoe dances and provide financial support to practice and buy musical instruments for cultural teams. Every year, the People's Committees of the four provinces also organise cultural weeks, cultural festivals of ethnic minority groups, performances and contests featuring Xoe dance./.
