Bamboo Dance becoming a form of cultural exchange, linking ethnic communities. Photo taken at Quyet Thang hamlet, Lac Luong commune (Yen Thuy).

Bamboo dance came to the people who grow up in Hoa Binh very naturally. Over the years, the styles of bamboo dance have been ingrained in the people’s minds. There are some cultural values that exist in such a special way like that so it is easy to understand why bamboo dancing is the typical and popular dance of Muong ethnic group.

The instruments needed for bamboo dancing are two big trees, usually made of bambusa nutans, straight and long, which make up the main stalls and many pairs of bamboo stalls with 3-4cm in diameter and 3-4m in length. The local people use those to create tools for making sounds and dance rhythm. In addition, everyday items such as bows, brocade towels, silk towels are also put into the dance. Men are dancing with bows; ladies are dancing with fans, silk scarves. Depending on each place, each cultivation and living habits that people choose the suitable tools to dance with.

The concept of balance, harmony of bamboo dance also follows certain rules. The dance team consists of a flapping group and a dancing group. Each group can be from several couples to many couples, the more couples there are, the richer and livelier the team is. However, the number of men and women is always equal. The movement of the men should be healthy to show the brave, the women are flexible, gentle and even movements of the hands and legs shaking. The bamboo dance requires the dancers to feel the music, hands and legs must be together into a unified point.

Bamboo dance of Muong ethnic people originated from a simple folk game that has now become the art of dance. The start was the game of pestle beating and stick beating. Throughout the development process, the art of bamboo dance has become much richer, livelier with high artistic content.

Mr. Bui Van Khan, a bamboo dancing artist in Ai village (Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district) said: According to the migration process, Muong ethnic people live closer to other ethnic groups, bamboo dancing has become a form of cultural exchange. The dance is simple, easy to learn but exciting, has made a bridge among the peoples of the ethnic groups.

Under the stilt house, beside the stream, the sounds of the bamboo dance still ring when friends far away can find. The dance has gone through many ups and downs with many changes are now bustling in laughter, cheerful echo, will remain forever with the village, with mountains and forests of the northwest area.

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