(VOVworld) – Co Tu ethnic minority people have traditionally danced ‘Tung tung da da’ as a way to connect the earth with the universe, and the ancestors. It is a group dance for both men and women. We’ll introduce you to this traditional dance of the Co Tu who live in Quang Nam province.
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| The ‘Tung tung-da da’ dance of Cotu ethnic people in Cong Don hamlet, Zuoih commune, Nam Giang district (Photo: namgiang.quangnam.gov.vn) |
The ‘Tung tung da da’ dance has been performed at many community events and festivals of the Co Tu ethnic group. Every Co Tu person in Quang Nam, Da Nang, or Thua Thien - Hue knows this dance. They respect and are well aware of the need to preserve and develop their traditional art.
Every day after working in the fields, Blink Thi Xiec of Dong Giang district spends time teaching local children how to dance ‘Tung tung da da’. Xiec explained: “all villagers young and old know how to dance because the older ones teach the younger ones. I was taught by old villagers and now I’m passing it on to the younger generations. I want to maintain our traditional culture so it won’t be lost. That way, we can build our typical cultural identity.”
Though the exciting music of the festivals is missing, local children from toddlers to teens are eager to practice dancing following Ms. Xiec’s instruction. Briu Lii, 14 years old, says “I registered for the class by myself and have practiced for a month. The dance is difficult and the most difficult thing is learning how to flex the legs. I enjoy learning this dance because it’s the traditional art of the Co Tu people. I want to dance as well as the veteran dancers.”
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| Cotu children are practicing to dance Tung tung da da (Photo: Lan Anh/VOV ) |
In the Co Tu language, ‘Tung tung’ means to rise up or to better oneself. This is the human aspiration to conquer the universe and have a better life. ‘Tung tung’ involves joyful, powerful, and athletic movements suitable for strong young men. ‘Da da’ means a straight line and suggests the spiritual values of waiting for heaven and earth’s favours. Tinh Pai of Dong Gian district says that when they dance, women raise their arms up so that they are parallel to the neck to reflect their spiritual aspiration. Pai elaborated “Men’s dance movements show power while those of women show grace and surrender. They raise up their arms to surrender to and express their gratitude towards heaven and earth. As the dance is a combination of arms and feet, those who are not familiar cannot do the dance. If the feet move rhythmically, the body and arms move gracefully.”
When they dance, the Co Tu men wear loin-cloths and a brocaded coat, with bare feet and hands gripping shields, lances, or the hands of adjacent persons. Throwing up their arms to the sky, they step while howling confidently and powerfully describing the strength of young villagers.
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When dancing, Cotu women look straight ahead, their mouths always smile
(Photo: Lan Anh/VOV) |
In brocaded dresses of diverse colors, patterns and with bare shoulders, the Co Tu women wear glass-bead necklaces. Their eyes look straight ahead, their mouths always smile, and their bare feet tiptoe around the circle in a counterclockwise direction. Ms Xiec said “when dancing, both men and women move slowly in a circle in an anticlockwise direction. They dance rhythmically following gongs and drum beats. When the gong and drum beats start, women step out and dance first, followed by the men. When one circle is completed, another circle is begun in the same fashion.”
Co Tu ethnic people enjoy ‘Tung tung da da’ because it involves a joint effort by Co Tu men, boys, women and girls. In the immense space of mountains and forests, circles of males and females move rhythmically to the sound of gongs and other traditional musical instruments. They believe the genies of earth, the river, and the stream will give them the food, faith, and strength to live on.
Lan Anh