Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nMen’s costume is different from women’s costume used in traditional Chèo art, which brings about unique features for Chèo stage art. Women’s costume used in traditional Chèo art includes áo bà ba (a long – sleeved, button down shirt with a scooped neck, split at the waist sides), áo tứ thân (a four- part dress,) a head scarf, a skirt and yếm (an ancient bodice worn as an undergarment).\nMen’s costume used in traditional Chèo art includes a turban and a shirt worn according to character’s role in a Chèo performance.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nAlong with folk music and tunes, dance is also an important element included in Chèo singing to express character emotions and images. Chèo dance is similar to other folk dances in the Northern Delta such as múa tay (dance with hands), múa quạt (dance with a fan), múa gậy (dance with a stick) and so on. Chèo dance language (the way of dancer’s movements) is used flexibly by artists to express different types of character (protagonists and antagonists), which has contributed significantly to the vitality of every Chèo performance.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nGenerations of practitioners have made great effort to the development and promotion of Chèo stage art by teaching the way of performing and singing Chèo.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nClubs of folklore and Chèo singing in such communes as Yên Nhân, Yên Phong (Yên Mô district); Gia Trung, Liên Sơn (Gia Viễn district); Khánh Hồng, Khánh Cường, Khánh Nhạc, Khánh Trung, Yên Ninh town (Yên Khánh district) have paid much attention to safeguard and promote ancient Chèo tunes.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nEach Chèo tune has its own typical characteristics to depict character expressions either joyfulness or satirical humour, for example Hát sắp, Hát sắp song loan,…. \nThe tunes that are of lyrical and romantic characteristics include Sa lệch chênh, Đường trường tiếng đàn, Đường trường bắn thước, Tình thư hạ vị, Nhịp đuổi…, which convey messages, promises, and delicate expressions of love. The tune Sa lệch xếp expressing optimism and pride is performed while working and moving on.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nChèo was traditionally performed by Vietnamese peasants who shared a passion for folk art and they often sung Chèo tunes together in their free time. As a result of this, the traditional stage art of Chèo has become increasingly popular and attractive.\n\n

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nTraditional Chèo was usually performed outdoors on a square mat in the village communal house yard during entertaining events, serving peasants and their family members after work.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nGenerations of practitioners have made great effort to the development and promotion of Chèo stage art by teaching the way of performing and singing Chèo.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nChèo is a very difficult genre to sing. In order to sing beautifully a Chèo tune, especially an ancient tune, such techiques as slurring, vibrato, tempo control are required.

Chèo – Vietnamese traditional stage art in Ninh Bình province\n\nClubs of folklore and Chèo singing in such communes as Yên Nhân, Yên Phong (Yên Mô district); Gia Trung, Liên Sơn (Gia Viễn district); Khánh Hồng, Khánh Cường, Khánh Nhạc, Khánh Trung, Yên Ninh town (Yên Khánh district) have paid much attention to safeguard and promote ancient Chèo tunes.\n\n