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Art of Xòe dance of the Tai people in Viet Nam marks_1
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  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001978
    Country Vietnam
    ICH Domain Performing Arts Social practices, rituals, festive events Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe
    Address
    Xòe is practiced in villages of the Tai people in four provinces: Yên Bái, Lai Châu, Sơn La and Điện Biên. These provinces include the following districts/towns/cities: Văn Chấn, Mù Cang Chải, Trạm Tấu, and Nghĩa Lộ town in Yên Bái; Mường Ảng, Điện Biên, Mường Chà, Tủa Chùa, Điện Biên Đông, Tuần Giáo, Mường Nhé, Nậm Pồ, Mường Lay town, and Điện Biên Phủ city in Điện Biên; Mộc Châu, Tam Đường, Sìn Hồ, Nậm Nhùn, Mường Tè, Phong Thổ, Tân Uyên, Than Uyên, and Lai Châu city in Lai Châu; and Thuận Châu, Yên Châu, Sốp Cộp, Vân Hồ, Mường La, Sông Mã, Quỳnh Nhai, Mai Sơn, Bắc Yên, Phù Yên, Sơn La city in Sơn La. Centers for Xòe Dance are in Mường Lò (Yên Bái), Mường Lay and Điện Biên Phủ city (Điện Biên), Mường So (Lai Châu), and Thuận Châu (Sơn La).
Description "Xòe" means dancing with movements that symbolize human activities in ritual, culture, life and work. Xòe is performed at rituals, weddings, village festivals and community events. There are three main types of Xòe: ritual Xòe, circle Xòe, and presentational Xòe. Rituals Xòe and presentational Xòe are named after props used during particular dances, such as scarf Xòe, conical hat Xòe, fan Xòe, bamboo pole Xòe, music Xòe, stick Xòe, and flower Xòe. The most popular form is circle Xòe, wherein dancers form a circle in harmony with each other. The basic dance movements of Xòe include raising the hands up, opening the hands, lowering the hands, clasping the hands of the next person following rhythmic footsteps, slightly arching the chest and leaning backwards. The musical instruments of gourd lute (tính tẩu), shawm (kèn loa), mouth organ (khèn bè), drum, gong, cymbals, reed flute (pí pặp), bamboo-tube percussion (bẳng bu) and small round-shaped rattle are used to accompany dance, which follows rhythms in even meters (either 2/4 or 4/4). The typical melodies played on the instruments use the following intervals: major second, major and minor third, perfect fourth and perfect fifth. Dance movements, though simple, symbolize wishes for community members to have a good life and live in solidarity. Gentle dance moves blend with instrumental music, vocals, tight-fitting blouses, the jingling of silver jewelry hanging around the waists of Tai women and creates an art form imbued with the cultural identity of the Tai in the northwestern region of Viet Nam.
Social and cultural significance Xòe dance is an indispensable part of the cultural activities and the spiritual life of Tai communities in four provinces of Yên Bái, Điện Biên, Lai Châu và Sơn La in the northwestern region of Viet Nam. The Art of Xòe dance symbolizes beauty and perpetuates the values of dance, music, costumes, cuisine, and more importantly, the cultural behavior of the Tai community. Today, the Art of Xòe dance has become a symbol of openness and hospitality, a mark of ethnic culture, and means for expressing the cultural identity of the Tai people in northwestern Viet Nam.
Transmission method The Art of Xoè Dance of the Tai People is passed on generations and among community members regardless of age or gender. Everyone who joins Xòe can learn from or instruct other members how to rhythmically step along to musical melodies. In Tai families, children learn how to dance Xòe from grandparents and parents when they take part in rituals at ceremony masters’ temples or attend weddings, feasts and village festivals. Ceremony masters pass it on to children, grandchildren, or successors the ritual procedures and ritual dances. During community rituals masters teach disciples how to dance Xòe. At communal feasts, seniors, gifted and skilled practitioners guide members so they can learn how to step, swing hands and feet to the beat, and use props (e.g., hats, scarfs, sticks, fans, etc.). There are also opportunities for collaboration between main practitioners and Tai dance artists. They coordinate and directly teach members of the performing art troupes and high school and college students how to dance. The government, authorities, and relevant departments support communities in the organization of contests, village festivals, and cultural events, making space for Xoe dancers to perform, and create a cultural environment, raise awareness and understanding of Xòe dance, strengthen exchanges, and share the skills of Xòe dance among members and throughout the community.
Community Local Tai communities in localities as listed in section D, hold and practice the Art of Xòe Dance of the Tai People. Community members share their responsibilities and play different roles in organizing a Xòe performance. In rituals with Xoè dance, such as Kin Pang Then, Xên Lẩu Nó, and Hết Chá, ceremony masters perform rituals, sing, play musical instruments of gourd lute (tính tẩu), instruct their disciples to make offerings, display offering trays, and model how to dance to thank and celebrate their God. Masters instruct their family members and religious groups and choose their successors. In the parties, communal festivals (e.g., Xên Bản), and ethnic culture week, all community members participate in preparing offerings, decorating the altar, making ritual objects, and preparing food and props. They together participate in performing the Xòe circle dance and welcome and invite outsiders to dance with them.
Type of UNESCO List Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Incribed year in UNESCO List 2021
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