Circle dance of solidarity - celebrating the Party and the Lunar New Year in Yen Chau commune, Son La province. Photo: Truong Son

While present in Yen Chau commune during the first days of the new year, a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper observed a festive atmosphere spreading throughout the villages.

In the courtyard of the village cultural center, the sounds of drums and gongs echoed, and people joined hands to form a circle for the xòe dance.

Those who participate in the Thai Xoe dance are called "xao xe". Photo: Truong Son

According to the elders, the ancient Thai people called the xòe dance "xe". Those participating in the xòe dance were called "xao xe". This simple way of referring to it shows how naturally xòe has been intertwined with community life.

For generations, the song about the Thai Xoe dance has resonated: "Without the Xoe dance, flowers won't bloom; without the Xoe dance, rice plants won't bear grain; without the Xoe dance, boys and girls won't become couples."

Children aged 13-15 were taught each movement by their grandmothers and mothers. Stepping forward, stepping backward, lifting the scarf, tossing their arms. The movements were simple yet decisive, the rhythm slow but captivating.

Drums, gongs, cymbals, and mouth organs are the musical instruments that create the music for the Xoe dance. Photo: Truong Son

Six traditional Thai Xoe dances, including the hand-holding dance (kham khen); the scarf-tossing dance (nhom khan); the forward-backward dance (don hon); the breaking of the dice dance (bo bon); the scarf-raising dance to offer wine (kham khan moi lau); and the circle dance with clapping (om lom top mu)... are still maintained in many villages.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thoat, Head of the Thai Culture Preservation Club, said: "Xoe dance is the soul of the Thai ethnic villages for generations, and everyone can participate. The more circles, big and small, the more people, the merrier and the stronger the community bond."

According to Ms. Thoat, the performing arts groups and clubs in the villages inhabited by the Thai people regularly engage in cultural and artistic activities, including practicing the Xoe dance. The core members of the Xoe dance receive regular training to maintain the correct movements of the ancient Thai Xoe dance.

Under the firelight, beneath the ceremonial pole, or around the drum and gong ensemble, the Thai people of Yen Chau commune, Son La province, are still captivated by the Xoe dance. Photo: Truong Son

The music accompanying the circle dance resonates from drums, gongs, cymbals, and bamboo flutes. The melodies are short, the rhythms repetitive, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes intense, sometimes gentle; the more you listen, the more captivating it becomes.

Under the flickering firelight or around the New Year's pole, people dance the xòe dance together. Their blouses, adorned with glittering silver buttons, and their soft black velvet skirts sway gracefully with each turn.

They held each other's hands tightly. The circle closed and then opened, laughter mingling with the sounds of drums and gongs echoing through the mountains and forests.

In 2022, the Thai Xoe dance art was inscribed by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is a great source of pride for the Thai ethnic people in Son La in particular and the four Northwestern provinces in general.

Mr. Lo Duc Viet, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Chau commune, said: "The locality has identified the preservation of Xoe dance as a long-term task. Every year, the commune organizes Xoe dance competitions and exchanges to celebrate the Party and the Lunar New Year. At the same time, we link Thai Xoe dance with the development of community tourism."

According to him, passing on the tradition to the younger generation is crucial in preserving the original essence of the ancient Thai Xoe dance.

In modern life, the xòe dance is not only present in festivals. The xòe dance can be seen in village squares, cultural centers, and cultural and tourism events.

With government involvement, dedicated artisans, and the maintenance of the club, the heritage is continuously passed on. Xoe dance is not just a memory of the past, but is alive and well in today's life.

A circle dance symbolizing solidarity among the people of Bản Lầu village, Tô Hiệu ward. Photo: Nguyên Thanh

As spring arrives, the circle dance stretches across the mountains and forests of Son La. It represents faith, unity, sharing, and the strong bond that has connected the community through generations.