Veteran artists quietly bring dance and traditional opera closer to young people

On the afternoon of July 22, a working delegation led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City - visited and gave gifts to veteran artists, including artists Bui Xuan Hanh, Hoang Van Tuc and Hoang Thuy Ha.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (red shirt) and the delegation visited Ms. Hoang Thuy Ha - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Accompanying the delegation were Mr. Vu Van Quan - Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Arts, Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Tan Kiet - Head of the Department of Arts, Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Luong Xuan Thanh - Principal of Ho Chi Minh City Dance College, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Dance Artists Association.

This is one of the activities of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee to visit outstanding artists, veterans or those in difficult circumstances, to encourage groups and individuals to carry out cultural and artistic activities well in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification; and at the same time, to summarize 50 years of Ho Chi Minh City's literature and arts.

Veteran artist Bui Xuan Hanh brings dance to serve the people

Although he is 84 years old, artist Bui Xuan Hanh is very alert, moves quickly, and happily welcomes the group. He especially had the chance to meet again artist Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, who used to work with him at the Military Region 7 Art Troupe.

Artist Bui Xuan Hanh was an actor, choreographer, and manager of the B2 Liberation Army Art Troupe, Military Region 7. He was awarded the Anti-American National Salvation Medal and considered for the title of People's Artist in 2024.

Mr. Xuan Hanh is currently a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Dance Artists Association, former General Secretary and Chairman of the early Dance Artists Association. He has more than 10 years as a soldier and artist on the battlefield, over 20 years as a performer and dance composer both in the army and in the civilian world, with about 35 dance works.

Ms. Thanh Thuy shared that the dance field currently lacks materials and topics about Ho Chi Minh City, and suggested that Mr. Xuan Hanh donate good scripts to give to Ho Chi Minh City Dance College to develop.

Ms. Thanh Thuy met with artist Bui Xuan Hanh - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Bringing opera and traditional plays in the Chinese community to reach young people

Ms. Hoang Thuy Ha is currently the deputy head of the Unified Guangdong - Chaozhou Opera Troupe. Ms. Thuy Ha has been with the troupe for 49 years as manager, choreographer, and organizer of nearly 100 plays.

Especially contributing to the adaptation of Vietnamese reformed opera scripts into Cantonese such as: To Anh Nguyet, Doi Co Luu, Cau Tho Yen Ngua, Nhiep Chinh Y Lan, Tam Cam, Thoai Khanh Chau Tuan...

She has many contributions in preserving and conserving the tradition of Chinese classical opera in general and Cantonese classical opera in particular.

Ms. Hoang Thuy Ha said 20 years ago, the troupe organized performances and sold tickets themselves.

For the past 20 years, the performance troupe has been offering free performances at guild halls and cultural centers with the support of various departments.

The opera troupe said the current difficulty is facilities, specifically performance venues.

The audience for this type of performance is mainly middle-aged to elderly people living mainly in District 5, 6, 11 (old) so it is difficult to travel far. Meanwhile, the number of stages in the area is limited.

Ms. Thanh Thuy suggested that the troupe should have more new scripts, approach young audiences to nurture new audiences, and commit to increasing performances to serve the Chinese community.

Ms. Truong Tu Muoi - permanent vice president of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Literature and Arts for Ethnic Minorities - commented that Ms. Hoang Thuy Ha devoted her entire youth to art and did not get married. When members of the opera troupe were sick, she visited them like family members day and night.

The delegation also visited artist Hoang Van Tuc. He is a PhD, lecturer, researcher, former deputy general secretary of the first term, member of the Theory and Criticism Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Dance Artists Association.

Visiting artist Hoang Van Tuc and his wife - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

He contributed and collected historical, cultural and social values ​​for the birth of dances and folk dance systems of the Vietnamese, Thai, Tay, Mong, Khmer and several other ethnic groups.

Mr. Hoang Van Tuc also participated in composing dances for the dance movement, winning many gold and silver medals...

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nghe-si-lao-thanh-am-tham-dua-nghe-thuat-mua-tuong-co-tiep-can-gioi-tre-20250722192642739.htm