The “Fairy” dance.

For the last three years, Hanoians have had a chance to watch Hanoi’s unique ancient dances at the New Year’s festival. In early February, nearly 300 amateur artists joined a special dance festival at the King Ly Thai To flower garden. At this festival, named Thang Long-Hanoi ancient dance festival 2009, seven ancient dances were re-introduced for the first time.

Amateur dancers from Lo Khe village, Dong Anh district, Hanoi brought three ancient dances to the festival named Tu Linh (dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix), Fairy, and Bo Bo.

Fairy is a dance that was performed at village communal houses to praise Thanh Hoang (tutelary gods of villages), the founders of ca tru art and celebrate the peaceful life of people. Bo bo dance was popular at festivals in the Red River Delta. This dance goes with songs. Tu Linh is a royal dance to wish for peace, prosperity and to drive away miasma.

The biggest surprise at the above dance festival was the appearance of Venerable Monk Thich Thanh Quy, the master of Dao Xuyen pagoda in Gia Lam district, Hanoi, and monks in a dance named Giai oan thich ket. This is a Buddhist dance featuring the setting up of an altar to vindicate and pray for the peace of souls.

Another ancient Buddhist dance presented at the festival is Thi Ho Huynh Can. The dance was directed by Venerable Monk Thich Thanh Phuong, the master of Dong Lim pagoda in Long Bien district. This dance is often performed by Buddhist followers at pagodas on the New Year, with lotus lanterns to wish for a good New Year.

The two other unique ancient dances were Drum Festival and Wrestling. The Drum Festival was performed by amateur artists from Phu Xuyen town. This dance was created by residents in Doi Tam drum-making village while the Wrestling dance comes from Mai Dong village.

According to history books, Hanoi has nearly 100 ancient dances closely linked with the city’s history. Many of them have disappeared.

Through the programme to re-introduce ancient dances by the Hanoi Dancers’ Association, it is expected that many of the ancient dances of Hanoi will be kept alive.

VietNamNet/PNVN