2009-2014 Mongolian Government has decreed and implementing successfully a National Safeguarding Plan of the "Mongolian traditional folk dance: “Biyelgee” in the objectives to safeguard, develop, transmit the element to the next generation by training and apprenticeship, emphasize and support the “Biyelgee” bearers. During the implementation of the National Plan relevant state and non-state parties, communities, practitioners have been involved actively and contributed an important role.
Activities
A: Field study and inventorying
- A field survey were undertaken to focus on the current state of Epic, its repertoire and associated customs and rituals
B. Safeguarding and Transmission
- National artists and volunteers have gathered together to create sustainable cultural activities which established several organizations; "Union of Mongolian folk art-“Biyelgee” ", "Union of folk dance “Biyelgee” transmission" and "Union of heritage treasure". These organization's main activities are linked to develop and safeguard the local “Biyelgee” specificity and offer legal protection to the practitioners.
- Also they co-organize workshops with cultural organizations and secondary schools in central and local area. By hiring the senior practitioners as teachers to the younger generation. The students who participate in these classes are volunteers.
- By the 2010 decree 546 on the protection of the ICH element of the Minister of Culture, Education and Science, we organized training and apprenticeship programmes involving 81 individuals for 16,2 million tugriks budget. From this budget, 3 million tugriks were distributed as a support to 15 bearers who where involved in the programme.
- In 2012, "Talents" programme has been approved by the ministry and the workshop been held 18-28th March 2013, organized by the "Hugsuu ensemble" and local NGO's to support and teach to over 400 students from nationwide. Handbooks and DVD's have published to spread over cultural centers.
- Since many schools and kindergartens are involved to teach the art of “Biyelgee”, over 1200 children are practicing and wear traditional costumes and ornaments.
- Since 2012, M Kh.Magazdai from Uvs province - ‘khotont biyelgee’, M B.Buyanjargal from Naranbulag soum – ‘durvud biyelgee’, M T.Duuren from Zuungobi soum – ‘bayad biyelgee’ and Ms B.Badamtsetseg from Khovd aimag – ‘zakhchin biyelgee’, are made contract with the Culture and Arts Committee to teach and apprentice their knowledge. Since 2009, 31 professional dancers been graduate with degree in “Biyelgee” from the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture, Music and Dance College of Ulaanbaatar and Zavkhan province.
- "Ikh khugsuu" association has been established in 2010 by Biyelgee practitioners with the objectives to restore some forgotten art of bielgee, to transmit the heritage to the next generation and to promote and spread this art in the world. Since then, based on Ministry of Culture's A/160 decision, the association has been organizing Bielgee workshops and apprenticeships in 21 province of Mongolia from 15th February 2013 till 20 April 2013. This activity involved 15 325 individuals of 3 to 75 years old.
C: Awareness raising, dissemination and promotion
- We have produced and distributed 20min promotional documentary film, “Biyelgee” inventorying, registration and list of practitioners and a completed catalogue on Mongolian folk dance “Biyelgee”. Now 436 practitioners have been registered.
- To promote the Mongolian national ICH, we have published books such as "Mongolian National Intangible Cultural Heritage" and " Rare and Unique Mongolian national ICH". Also published an introduction to “Biyelgee”, biography of highly talented bearers and photo collections.
- In December 2010, Ministry of Culture and Arts and Culture Committee, NGO's have organized a national competition with 3 age categories where 120 practitioners are participated.
- Mongolian National Folk Arts Festival is organized every 5 years. In 2011 among 820 participants, 142 participants were “Biyelgee” practitioners.
- In 2012 with the association of Culture and Arts committee, we have produced a documentary film and with the help of scholars and researchers, series of educational DVD to distribute in secondary schools.
- Last few years there were many publications concerning the “Biyelgee” such as; "Wonder of “Biyelgee” ", 2010- Pr D.Nanjid, State University of Arts and Culture, "Dictionary of Mongolian Dance Arts" 2010- Pr J.Erdenekhorloo, SUAC.
- 7th June 2013, in the "Talent" programme framework, 1023 “Biyelgee” practitioners of all levels have been gathered and danced for 90min in Arvaikheer, Uvurkhangai Province. It was TV broadcasted on air to public. The participants were all from different provinces.
- Governmental and non-governmental organization that conduct activities to safeguard and protect the “Biyelgee”, scholars and researchers, bearers and practitioners are continuing to increase its social and cultural functions through publishing books and articles, creating documentary films, and TV programs.