People's Artist Dang Hung has been well-known for his expertise in choreographing Cham dances. With plenty of researches, especially basing on Cham's sculptures, Dang Hung has restored the dance of Cham royal palace (Apsara).
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Dang Hung was born in Binh Dinh Province. He moved to the north when he was 18 years old. Reportedly, in 1958, Dang Hung took part in the dancing class (precursor of Vietnam Dance College), taught by North Korean professional, and then became one of the excellent learners who had good choreography skills. In 1962, he achieved gold medal at the international dancing festival in Helsinki (Finland) as a choreographer. Some years later, at the dancing festival in Sofia (Bulgaria) where he played the role of choreographer and actor in another item, Dang Hung won his second gold medal. Specially, Dang Hung created the dances in the two items basing on the ones in “Tuong” (Vietnamese classical drama).
Dang Hung was always interested in Cham dances. Therefore, in 1967, he associated with song writer Nhat Lai to arrange the item about Cham fair. After the country was liberated, Dang Hung focused on researching and creating Cham dances. After 1975, he worked in the Song and Dance Troop of Thuan Hai Province (precursor of Ninh Thuan Province and Binh Thuan Province). In about ten years, Dang Hung travelled throughout the central region in order to do research on dances of Cham people.
In the early of the 1980s, Dang Hung produced series of dancing items such as fan dance and drum dance, which impressed the professionals. He also restored Apsara, the dance of Cham royal palace which was an excellent item at the national singing and dancing festival held in 1985.
Dang Hung has also developed dancing items into ballet and opera performances bearing the unique features of Cham’s culture. “I am very interested in Cham dances. The more I learn and research Cham culture, the more I find that it is a valuable spiritual heritage,” said Dang Hung.
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| People’s Artist Dang Hung giving instructions to actors of Khanh Hoa Provincial Traditional Arts Theater. |
Dang Hung has also had many memories with Khanh Hoa Province. He used to spend much time at Ponagar Temple to learn about the statues and embossments of Cham people. Many dancing items of Hai Dang Song and Dance Troop performed at the national festivals were choreographed by Dang Hung. Besides, he has also taken part in choreographing some items of Khanh Hoa Provincial Traditional Arts Theater.
“In the past, Cham dances were only performed at the folk festivals. Thanks to People’s Artist Dang Hung, these dances have been performed on stages; so that, they have become more popular. Dang Hung has contributed significantly in the success of performances of Cham culture,” said screenwriter Nguyen Si Chuc.
People’s Artist Dang Hung won many domestic and international wards, including two international gold medals, 41 national gold medals, 32 national silvers and 21 awards of Vietnam Association of Dancing Artists. He was given the title of People’s Artist in 1989; National Award of Literature – Arts in 2000.
Thanh Nguyen
Translated by H.N
