Tay Ninh (VNA) – Once at risk of falling into oblivion, Chan dance – a centuries-old masked performance of the Khmer people - has been revived in the southern province of Tay Ninh, where monks, artisans, and young performers are working together to preserve the art form as a cultural treasure and a potential tourism draw.
Chan dance, or Ro Bam Yeak Rom dance, is always featured at major Khmer festivals such as Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year), Sene Dolta (ancestor worship), and Ooc Om Bok (moon offering).
Monk Kien So Phat, the abbot of Botum Kiri Rangsay Pagoda in Binh Minh ward, emphasised that rapid social and cultural changes have long posed a threat to traditional performing arts. In the past, pagoda and village festivities often featured the Rom Vong Dance alongside modern-style performances. However, in recent years, many pagodas and Khmer communities have begun to reintroduce the Chan dance into their celebrations.
Monks, nuns, and traditional cultural aficionados have joined efforts to revive the traditional five-tone orchestras and invited artisans from Can Tho city and Vinh Long province to train the younger generation.
Phat said Chan dance emphasises stylised body movements, particularly hand and foot gestures to portray gods, demons, and legendary characters. The revival of the art form demonstrates the community’s cultural pride as well as the efficacy of the preservation work amidst deep global integration.
For young performers like 18-year-old Binh Na Quinh and 22-year-old Phan Det from Ninh Dien commune, learning the Chan dance has been a source of pride. They expressed their aspiration to pass on the traditional art form and inspire love for national culture among the young Khmer people.
Ngo Le Tu, a member of the province’s Literature and Arts Association, warned that many folk songs, dances, and musical genres survive mainly through oral transmission and risk disappearing if not recorded or passed on.
Seeing Tay Ninh's burgeoning tourism sector, he said, preserving and promoting the value of folk songs, dances, and music in connection with tourism development should be viewed as an urgent task. He explained that this is a solution to protect cultural identity and spur socio-economic development.
The Tay Ninh Party Committee has recognised tourism as a key sector for development, with a focus on transforming the Ba Den Mountain tourist area into a national-level destination. To support this vision, the province has prioritised the preservation of ethnic folk traditions, incorporating them into the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2022-2030. Furthermore, the province has worked to preserve and promote unique cultural values by turning art forms that reflect ethnic identity into distinctive tourism products. This effort aims to enrich cultural life, foster national pride, expand cultural tourism, and showcase local heritage on both national and international stages./.
