Dancers call to the gods by dancing over red hot coals

Amongst the Pa Then people, a minority group found mostly in the Ha Giang province of Vietnam, the fire festival is a crucial part of their spirituality.

The fiery festival usually takes place near the end of the year, when the weather is most severe, and the Pa Then gather to call out to the gods to give thanks, ask the gods for a fruitful crop, worship heaven and earth and to encourage their youth to become the masters of their own path in life.

As the only foreigner present at this small village’s dance in the Quang Binh district, nomadic photographer Claudio Sieber was invited to join in the festivities and test out his own fire dancing skills.

He said: “I wasn’t just observing, the Pa Then invited me to be part of the performance. I could finally tick walking over burning coal from my bucket list!

“One of my favourite parts to witness was the shaman beating hard on the steel drum while the excited dancer sat opposite hopping around until he went into a trance.

“Then the dancer started to twitch like crazy and soon after throws himself into the blaze.”

For some of the colourfully dressed villagers, Sieber was the first foreigner they had ever met but they treated him like one of their own while he stayed in a stilt house and enjoyed their plentiful supply of rice wine.

The passionate dancers also made the most of the liquid courage on offer before launching into the three hour dance marathon.

Claudio said: “It turned out that those who joined the dance had to drink alcohol before dancing. Suddenly, the flame flared and shot red coal dust up. Bare feet were jumping on the fire and dancing to the tune of the steel bar beaten by the shaman.

“Burning coal was flying all over the place. While the participants proved their courage, most of the fellow villagers enjoyed drinking rice wine or smoked a bamboo pipe.

“The festival starts in the early afternoon with a sewing competition and offerings from the shaman. Later the day dancers perform traditional Pa Then dances and songs while others start the bonfire. It ends after the Pa Then men jump into the fire.”

Outsiders might baulk at the idea of willingly prancing through red hot hot coals but the fire dance has endured throughout the generations - and shows no sign of fading away.

The photographer said: “I believe in the power of a farmer’s courage. There were no injures at all. I’m guessing the only one burning himself was me when I tried to walk over the glowing coal.”