Chin Performance Group
Music and dance are the foundation of Chin culture, one of the seven national ethnic minority groups that make up Burma today. China music and dance express the thoughts and feelings of the Chin people, through voice, gesture and movement. The only instrument used in the dance is a traditional Chin drum.
In the words of Zing, dance leader of the Chin Cultural Performance Group, “When the harvest is great, we dance to celebrate it. Each dance has its name, and by saying the dance’s name, a reference is made that affects a manner and tone in the dance.”
“For example, when one village wins war over another village, there is a dance where we lift our hands during the dance and the words of the song speak of winning,” she said.
The Chin Cultural Performance Group are made up of seventeen performers; fifteen of whom are dancers. They first started performing in early 2001 to celebrate Chin National Day.
Situated at the western end of Burma, sharing borders with Bangladesh and India, the Chin State is hilly and sparsely populated.
The Chins were predominately animists but due to the evangelical efforts of American missionaries in the early 1800’s, over 90% are now Christians.
There are subgroups within the Chin state. Each is named according to the district in which they live. The largest Chin groups are Hakha Chins, Falam Chins and Tidam Chins.
The Chin Cultural Performance Group includes Chins from the various local districts representing the Chin State.