Turning “Cheo” into school to preseve the arts

(Cinet)- Turning “Cheo” arts into the school at Cam Doai Primary School is not only helping preserve and develop the traditional art but also popularise it in the province.

Cheo is an original synthesis of folk songs, dances and narration. The words of the play are imbued with the lyricism of folk songs, proverbs and popular sayings. A play can be performed on an elaborate stage in a large theatre, as well as on one or two mats spread out in the middle of a communal house with a cast of just three: a hero, a heroine and a clown.

Some students of the Cam Doai Primary School in the northern province of Hai Duong enjoys the traditional music lessons of “Cheo” because it “helps us relax a lot“. Since the school made this art form part of the curricula in 2011, the students have enjoyed learning the music and their families have enjoyed cheo performances at home.

There is no hesitation whatsoever when fifth-grade student Nguyen Thi Nguyet is asked which is her favourite class in school, “Cheo,” she says. Nguyet’s mother Truong Thi Thu said she was particularly happy with the proramme because everyone in her family, especially her elderly parents, love this traditional drama. She said she would do everything she can to help Nguyet develop her skills, although she did not want a focus on this art to deflect her daughter from other subjects at school.

“Learning how to sing and joining the cheo troupe only makes us enjoy other subjects more. I am really happy that I am not afraid to sing to many people. I also like to make new friends and talk with people.” Nguyet said.

Tran Thi Thuy in charge of the school’s art troupe says she has taught the traditional music in other schools, but students of Cam Doai are interested into the art. She said teaching these characteristics to students is not easy because dialogues of classical plays such as Quan Am Thi Kinh, Luu Binh Duong Le, Ngheu So Oc Hen and Suy Van Gia Dai many archaic words and phrases.

Professor Tran Van Khe and other musicologists have noted that the clown in a cheo play seems to have a supporting role, but is actually very important in a larger context, offering a satire on society that is all the more effective for reducing the audience to tears of laughter.

Turning “Cheo” into school to preseve the arts Related image(s)