SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Winaddresses coordination meeting of Leading Committee for Organizingthe 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions
NAY PYI TAW August 12
Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions State Administration Council Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered an address at the coordination meeting of the leading committee at the Yinkyayhmu Yadana Hall of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture in Nay Pyi Taw at 1 pm today.
Also present at the meeting were Union ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, deputy ministers, members of the leadingcommittee and work committee, region and state ministers, permanentsecretaries, directors general, maestros and officials.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Senior General said that emergence of a country and history of its long term existence depend onsecurity, economic, education and cultural sectors as well as unity.
The sector of culture can be analized as physical and mental cultural.
The UNESCO recognizes the physically tangible culture and mentally intangible culture. A large number of tangible and intangible cultural heritages are lasting for many years in Myanmar. Myanmar is a home to various national races. Depending on locations, they are indiversity of languages, faiths, culture and customs. Some of them are in common but some are in diversity. The common nature of all national races is the spirit of adoring and preserving their traditional culture and customs.
Basic musical instruments of all national races in Myanmar are same in original musical instruments. All ethnic people use the dancing system based on posturesof head, waist, leg and hand.
The performing arts competitions started in 1993 and suspended in 2016. Consequently, Myanmar’s cultural heritages are gradually disappearing among the new generation youths as well as number of performing arts experts is declining.
So, experts are disappointed that the acts against the traditional can be seen here and there, encroaching on some traditional cultural heritages. Fine arts culture and traditional customs are interrelated each other through mutual respect. At a time when traditional cultural performing arts fades out, traditional culture such as paying respects to elders and dispersing compassion to others and giving mercy to youngers will face disappearance.
Hence, the State Administration Council adopted the objectives and roadmaps when it assumed the State responsibilities. In its social objectives, the SAC adopted the objective to respectand promote the customs and traitions of all national peoples and preserve and safeguard their cultural heritage and national characteristicss.
Hence, arrangements are being madeto rehold the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions inline with the objective adopted by the State Administration Council.
At the meeting of the Union government held on 5 May 2022, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave guidance: “As theState will be holding the performing arts competitions on a grand scale in a near future, responsible officials are to make preparations to enable all those from various fields who deserve to participate in the contests and ensure fair competitions.” Therefore, the work committee and sub-committees responsible for the competitions have to made efforts to ensure all those who deserve take part in the events based on thier experiences, qualifications, rules and disciplines and award handsome prizes to outstanding performers.
Like the previous years, this year’s 23rd performing arts competitions will be of three categories of competitions eight kinds in dancing, one in composing and 13 in playing music.
Dancing contest will be the Mon traditional dancing contest where all have to participate collectively. So, the cultures, customs, traditions and lifestyles of the national races can be learned among each other.
The event is a fine tradition of the country. “Kwet Seik”, a verbal skill of Myanmar’s performing arts, has almost died down. It will also be included as always. Myanmar’s marionette is an art that can penetrate not only the region but also the international community. Thanks to the performing arts completions, marionette artists can be turned generation after generation.
It has caught international attention and earned foreign income to a certain extent. Ramayana play has its find tradition which will be included in the 23rd competitions. It started in the royal palace in ME 1125 under the rule of King Hsinphyu Shin. It can be hoped that varieties of Myanmar’s Thabin essence will be included.
All responsible officials and individuals are to cooperate in thier respective sectors in all the preparations including award ceremonies in order to successfully hold the completions with dignity and grandeur.
Next, chairman of the leading committee Union Minister U Ko Ko explained objectives of the contests, formation of the leading committee, work committee and subcommittees and financial matters. Secretary Deputy Minister Dr Moe Zaw Tun reported on tasks related to the event.
Then, the union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, region and state ministers, officials from the subcommittees and judges reported matters related to successful holding of the competitions.
The Vice-Senior General gave a concluding remark and the meeting ended.