| Vin Ncaus Hmong Dancers perform at Olbrich Botanical Gardens |
Madison families came out of the cold and trouped to Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison
on February 20 to watch and enjoy the performance of Vin Ncaus Hmong Dance Troupe. The
Hmong dancers definitely brought the rain forests of Laos to life. Wearing traditional Hmong
costumes complete with colorful sashes and beads, the dancers also shared a big part of
the Hmong culture. The dances featured ordinary life in Laos, where planting and harvesting
crops were daily chores of everyone. The unique Hmong bamboo musical instrument, Qejj,
was played by Hmong boys and young men, who also displayed their extraordinary
"gymnastic" moves as they created beautiful music together. The dancers also showed pov
vov, the ball throwing game between boys and girls, usually done during New year
celebration, and an initial meeting of boys and girls.
Zon Moua (above),a UW student, is the group's choreographer. She explained that the color
of the Hmong girls' skirts indicate the tribe or region they are from. She added that they do a
lot of finger exercises, to extend them as far as possible, calling the movement "open flower."
In the Hmong culture, Moua said, women do gardening and cooking while the men do
hunting and wood cutting.
on February 20 to watch and enjoy the performance of Vin Ncaus Hmong Dance Troupe. The
Hmong dancers definitely brought the rain forests of Laos to life. Wearing traditional Hmong
costumes complete with colorful sashes and beads, the dancers also shared a big part of
the Hmong culture. The dances featured ordinary life in Laos, where planting and harvesting
crops were daily chores of everyone. The unique Hmong bamboo musical instrument, Qejj,
was played by Hmong boys and young men, who also displayed their extraordinary
"gymnastic" moves as they created beautiful music together. The dancers also showed pov
vov, the ball throwing game between boys and girls, usually done during New year
celebration, and an initial meeting of boys and girls.
Zon Moua (above),a UW student, is the group's choreographer. She explained that the color
of the Hmong girls' skirts indicate the tribe or region they are from. She added that they do a
lot of finger exercises, to extend them as far as possible, calling the movement "open flower."
In the Hmong culture, Moua said, women do gardening and cooking while the men do
hunting and wood cutting.
The dancers then "taught" some of the
audience members, especially children,
how to play the Qejj.
The Vin Ncaus performance was part of
the Children of the Rainforest Series,
offered every year by Olbrich Gardens. The
Children of the Rainforest series
celebrates the cultures of rainforest
regions around the world and fosters an
attitude of stewardship toward the natural
environment. The series is sponsored by
William Wartmann.
audience members, especially children,
how to play the Qejj.
The Vin Ncaus performance was part of
the Children of the Rainforest Series,
offered every year by Olbrich Gardens. The
Children of the Rainforest series
celebrates the cultures of rainforest
regions around the world and fosters an
attitude of stewardship toward the natural
environment. The series is sponsored by
William Wartmann.