In order to spread the heritage value of ‘bai choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards) to pupils, the cultural and education sectors in Da Nang have jointly organised a training course on this form of art for music teachers at primary schools citywide.
Teachers performing 'bai choi' at the closing ceremony of the training course. Photo: Xuan Dung
This practical and meaningful activity has significantly contributed to preserving and promoting the value of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity as well as helping ‘bai choi’ continue to go hand in hand with contemporary life.
‘Bai choi’ is a form of unique and indispensable folk art in the traditional Tet, festivals and cultural and artistic activities of the local community. This art form exists mainly in the form of ‘bai choi’ clubs in the districts.
Director of the Da Nang Culture and Cinema Centre Ngo Van Bay said that over the past years, in an effort to preserve the value of ‘bai choi’, the city has integrated this folk music genre into the city's major cultural and tourism events.
Also, ‘bai choi’ performances are regularly organised on Saturday and Sunday evenings at the eastern end of the ‘Rong’ (Dragon) Bridge, thereby receiving the attention and support of a large number of locals and tourists and gradually creating a unique and attractive cultural tourism product.
In order to continue to preserve and promote the art of ‘bai choi’, especially to the younger generation, the local cultural and education sectors have jointly organised a 5-day training course for more than 100 music teachers of primary schools.
During the training course, the trainees have been taught by veteran artistes about the performing forms of ‘bai choi’ in the Central Coast, history of formation and development of ‘bai choi’ in the South Central Coast, and how to sing main tunes and build performance repertoires.
According to the organisers, the training course has provided an opportunity for artistes to convey their experience and passion for the art form to trainees, thereby spreading the value of ‘bai choi’ in Central Viet Nam in general and Da Nang in particular to young people.
Ms. Dao Ngoc Anh Tuyet, a music teacher at the Hai Chau District-based Vo Thi Sau Primary School, noted that the training course was a very useful, and she could better understand about ‘bai choi’.
After the training course, the district-level education sectors plan to build typical clubs of ‘bai choi’ in each school. Any school that meets the requirements for the number of participants will be supported by artistes to train and teach.
According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Thi Hoi An, in 2017, UNESCO inscribed the art of Bai Choi in Central Viet Nam on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, hereby contributing to affirming the rich, distinctive and unique cultural identity of this art form, and honouring the traditional value that the city is trying to preserve and promote.
She also highlighted the practicality and necessity of such training course in greatly contributing to facilitating the practice, creation and teaching of the intangible cultural heritage in the community.
“After the training course, we hope that trainees will continue to bring knowledge and melodies to the preschool generation to absorb, preserve and maximise the value of the art of ‘bai choi’” added Mrs. An.
Reporting by Xuan Dung - Translating by M.Dung