Rowing in the AI ​​era: 'Young people turning their backs on tradition' is no longer true at this time

Hiep on stage performing in an event of "Cheo 48h - I row about my homeland"

Two representatives of two periods on the "boat" rowing back to their homeland had a conversation with Tuoi Tre: Dinh Thao and Nguyen Hoang Hiep.

We operate a non-profit project, but in some activities, we decided to collect a small amount of money so that people can have a different perspective: pay to receive value. Because chèo, xam, quan họ - traditional values ​​are not so pitiful that they need to be "rescued".

"The boat" going upstream

* 10 years ago, 9X youth were passionate about rock, rap, and pop, but you chose the art of Cheo for a community project. Why is that?

- Dinh Thao: We are not out of the general trend of liking vibrant, modern things.

With traditional art, I, like other friends, used to be very unfamiliar. One time when I was in college, in the traditional folk music class, the teacher showed a video about the art of Xam singing, I found it quite difficult to listen.

I searched and met friends in the "I'm 20" contest who had the same interest and ideas in creating playgrounds to learn about traditional culture and art as me.

"48h Rowing - I row back to my homeland" began to take shape from then.

We study and work in many fields, but not many of us go to art school.

Up to now, Cheo 48h has attracted many young people to participate, including those studying culture and humanities, engineering, doctors, and those working in businesses.

The playground we built is not only for those who study art formally but also for those who love and appreciate traditional values.

Dinh Thao (left) and Nguyen Hoang Hiep

* Why "48h Rowing - I row back to my homeland"?

- Dinh Thao: At that time, every time we had a meeting or did something together, it happened to be around two days, so we chose that time to name it.

At that time, we only thought of doing a project on the art of Cheo and maintaining it for about a year after receiving the award and receiving funding from "I 20". But we were also surprised by the interest and commitment of some young people.

The more we bonded, the more passionate we became. The group members were not only organizers, managers, and promoters, but we also learned and practiced, and at one point we felt we could not stop but had to continue.

* So with "48h Rowing - I Row Back to My Homeland" can you imagine your boat once went upstream and now it is merging into a smooth flow?

- Nguyen Hoang Hiep: As a young person, I find the comment "young people turn their backs on tradition" is no longer true at this time.

But 7-10 years ago, the brothers and sisters of Cheo 48h had a harder time.

I remember Ms. Anh (a member) when interviewing young people at Hoan Kiem Lake ( Hanoi ) with the question "Do you know anything about rowing?", some of them answered in confusion "Is it rowing?".

The difficulty is that it is a strange subject for young people. In the beginning, seniors also had difficulty contacting partners and sponsors because they were skeptical about its seriousness and feasibility.

Those guys must have a lot of enthusiasm to overcome that difficulty.

To prevent young people from turning their backs on traditional arts, the contributions of people like the founders of Cheo 48h are very important.

Besides, there are young artists who also return to tradition and create a spread, the mass media and schools also have many activities of interest. That resonance brings the current results and I am just the one who takes over and maintains the results.

Maybe I'm a bit optimistic, but from the young people I've met through the classes and workshops of Cheo 48h, we think we've made the right choice for the journey.

Personally, I didn’t think I would stick with traditional art, because I studied something else and my family wanted me to pursue a different career. But now I’m passionate about it. This is a place that can give me positive energy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) but still starting from the root

* How do you bring traditional art to young people? And an inevitable question: where does the funding come from?

Dinh Thao - Photo: NVCC

- Dinh Thao: We have classes on Cheo, Xam, and Quan Ho with the support of artists and artisans.

In class, you will gain a basic understanding of these traditional arts and practice singing, playing musical instruments and participating in mini shows.

In addition, we have workshops, experiential programs, and journeys to places that are the cradles of traditional arts...

We connect with cultural agencies and organizations to build products that can be combined for performance from the results obtained.

For example, in collaboration with the Center for Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam, we regularly organize small shows in the heart of the Old Quarter to add value to the heritage space in the heart of the city. We also cooperate with universities to organize programs for students.

Regarding funding, we received support from "I 20" in 2014 and 2015. From 2016 until now, we have operated independently and covered our own expenses. Workshops and classes charge a fee that can support actual costs.

We operate a non-profit project, but in some activities, we decided to collect a small amount of money so that people can have a different perspective: pay to receive value. Because chèo, xam, quan họ - traditional values ​​are not so pitiful that they need to be "rescued".

* What's new about 48h rowing now compared to the early days? When Gen Z takes over, do you have any ideas for combining tradition with modernity, applying technology in spreading?

- Nguyen Hoang Hiep: In addition to classroom activities, the group also organizes programs to recreate the space of Cheo Hat Xam or ancient Quan Ho plays.

The programs ensure three elements: performance, sharing of stories and experiences from artists, artisans or members of Cheo 48h participating in the performance and interaction and exchange with the audience.

We also focus on multi-sensory experiences for young people. They will hear songs, hear stories, touch musical instruments and costumes.

In the program, you can use AI to compose new lyrics for a Xam tune. With the lyrics composed for the love melody, young people can give them to each other and sing them to each other.

These are also new points suitable for young people. However, we always have to maintain the core values ​​that Cheo 48h has done before, not to deviate.

* What is that core value?

Nguyen Hoang Hiep - Photo: NVCC

- It is a connection for young people to understand traditional values. To do that, we must start from the root so that they understand ancient Cheo, Xam, and Quan Ho.

Along with that are musical instruments, costumes, ways of responding, greeting, behaving, and traditional customs. Those who are interested in traditional art need to understand the roots so that they can create and apply modern technology on the basis of traditional values.

For example, along with the melodies of Xam, we introduce to young people the musical instruments, their roles in Xam troupes, and the characteristics of Xam troupes.

With Quan Ho, we also want to bring young people back to the ancient Quan Ho singing to understand why the ancients called it "playing Quan Ho" and not performing like on stage.

Dinh Thao graduated from the musicology department of the National Academy of Music and Nguyen Hoang Hiep graduated from the literature department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

Both of you are currently working for the Center for Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam. But "Cheo 48h - I row back to my homeland" is one of many independent community projects you have participated in and are key members of.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cheo-thoi-ai-nguoi-tre-quay-lung-voi-truyen-thong-khong-con-dung-luc-nay-20240612095717988.htm