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The Cham H’roi Gong troup performs at Tay Nguyen Gong Festival 2007. |
The Gong troupe from Cham H’roi ethnic group in Van Canh district has often been assigned to represent the province’s ethnic groups to join festivals taking place nationwide. The troupe will also perform at the first International Gong Festival in Gia Lai province in November.
Cham H’roi Gong troupe includes 20-25 artists, musicians, and one director. Before performing anywhere, they always practise carefully.
“Whenever go to perform in other localities, all of us think that we show to introduce not only the cultural features of our ethnic group but the whole province,” said Minh Thanh Thao, a member of the troupe. “We are, therefore, proud to perform.”
As planned, they are going to participate in the first International Gong Festival in Gia Lai from November 11 to 16.
“24 artists will participate in a performance illustrating do dau festival, called Quoai chơ ruh a kơh in Cham language,” said head of Van Canh district’s Culture-Information Division, Nguyen Tan Liem. Many dances performed by Cham H’roi girls and religious ceremonies by Gong orchestra are expected to a story about the history of the province and its ancient gong culture.
“It’s a great honor for Cham H’roi ethnic group to perform with other ethnic groups nationwide, but it’s also a rough task requiring all-out efforts,” Doan Van Sanh, a resident of Suoi May village, said.
However, the troupe is now facing the shortage of artists. Some members got married or work far from home; thus, they haven’t joined the troupe. Some newcomers still have to practise a lot to perform well. Alongside these, many left the troupe owing to low payment.
The Gong troupe may be selected to participate in the Cultural Day for Vietnamese Ethnic Groups on the occasion of 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Ha Noi and other events taking place next year.
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