Cultures revived as Festival Hue 2008 starts

Under the theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development”, the fifth Festival Hue kicked off on the evening of June 3 with colours of cultures symbolising the ancient capital of Hue (Vietnam) and some countries in the world.
Present at the opening ceremony, which was held in front of the Dai Noi, were Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, ambassadors and counsellors to Vietnam scientists, historical researchers and thousands of the local and foreign visitors.

The dance “Fairy and Dragon song” started the opening ceremony.

Apart from Nha Nhac, the intangible heritage, many songs appraising the ancient capital of Hue and depicting the uniqueness of regions in the city of festival, Hue, are performed to make audiences in Vietnam and international friends know more about the traditional culture of the Central and Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Notably, two holy models of dragon and phoenix, created by Philip Nizette and Jenifer Zones from Australia ang their Vietnamese counterparts, impressed audiences. Background for the two models was the fireworks lighting directed by the French Pierre Alain Hubert, who is known in Vietnam with his firework performance on The Huc bridge on the Eve of 2008 in Hanoi

Remarkably, joining at the opening ceremony of Festival Hue 2008 were some foreign art troupes. They deeply displayed their countries’ traditional cultures.

“It is very interesting to enjoy Vietnamese culture mixed with my own”, Barbara Wellborn Belgium visitor said.

The Republic of Korea entertained audiences with fan dance served by the National Center for Korean Namdo performing arts. The dance is derived from a folkloric ritual dance. The special point of this dance lies in the movement of fans and every choreographed movement of the dancers.

De Koninklijke Steltenlopers Merchtem art troupe from Belgium delighted participants with stilt walking. In addition, Russian artists displayed Kakinka folk dance and folk-doll “Matrioshka”. Besides, Okinawa art troupe from Japan enjoyed audiences with Yotsudake odori dance.

A real cultural party was served on the evening of June 3 in the ancient capital of Hue. The interesting opening ceremony kicked off a numerous cultural and artistic programmes in eight following days.

* Also on the evening of June 3 took place the Imperial Nights in Dai Noi, right after the opening ceremony of Festival Hue 2008. The Imperial Night (held on three nights on June 3, June 6 and June 9) is an art program associated with festival activities, aiming at reviving the glistening beauty of the Royal Night with many of cultural activities in the ancient Royal Palace such as Hue Royal Court Music, Hue Royal dancing, classical drama music, Hue music, diversified Hue Royal gastronomy in royal feasts and so on. The revitalization of royal games once to be enjoyed by the Nguyen monarch will certainly bring memorable and exciting experience to the public such as Hue Opera Music, Hue Tea Drinking, Poem Recital, performances of poem calligraphy on lanterns, Hue traditional lucky tag and game Dau Ho.

(Source:QDNN)

Tag: Culture , Festival , Festival Hue , Hanoi , Hue , International , Japan , Vietnam , Vietnamese , Vietnamese Culture

Cultures revived as Festival Hue 2008 starts

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