(VOVworld) - Thang Long – Hanoi ancient dances is the elaborate combination of many cultures, which was an essential folk art in the daily life of the capital city’s dwellers. Ancient dances have disappeared from the modern life. In order to revitalize the ancient dances, artists and researchers have traveled to localities to meet senior artists and seek for historical documents. Our program today introduces artist Le Hong Thang who devotes her life to ancient dances of Thang Long – Hanoi.

Thang Long ancient dances

Born and grown up in the central province of Thanh Hoa, Le Hong Thang felt in love with Thang Long ancient dances by chance. In 1960s, she came to Hanoi to study at the Vietnam Dance Academy, where she learnt dances of the capital city. The wet rice culture, the beautiful nature of the Red river delta, and elegant Hanoians were the inspiration for the dances. Artis Le Hong Thang says: "Dancing culture is one typical feature of Hanoi’s civilization. If we want to know about Hanoi in the past and the quintessence of its culture, we must know its ancient dances. I love the dances and want to relive it for the next generations,".

Ancient dance is inseparable from its derivation which is a cultural space of festivals and folk art. In order to preserve the dances, the artists have studied old documents, consulted senior artists, and invited young people to perform the dances. Emeritus Nguyen Van Bich is President of the Hanoi Dancers’ Association. "Thang has exerted great effort to preserving the dances. She has come to localities to learn the essence of the dances of Phu Dong and Le Mat villages. She has contributed greatly to preserve our ancestors’ culture and has completed practical research on ancient dances.", Bich says.

Folklorist Le Thanh Bao comments: "The quintessence of the ancient dances lies in the performance. She has relived the fundamental features of ancient dances such as delicate movements and expressions."

With more than 50 years of experience, Thang has helped preserve 10 ancient dances such as 4-sacred animals dance, fairy dance, and Stick dance. She was elected Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi Dancers’ Association for three terms. At the age of 70, Thang continues to study old documents to get more information of Thang Long ancient dances.

Ngoc Nga- Le Phuong