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| Vice Chairman of Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh speaking at the opening ceremony |
The festival is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in collaboration with the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee.
Running from now until August 22, the International Dance Festival 2024 gathers nearly 500 artists and performers representing 9 countries, including: the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Philippines, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and the host country, Vietnam.
More than 500 artists and performers are participating
According to the organizers, the International Dance Festival is held every three years. The participants include professional dance performance units representing various regions and countries worldwide, as well as professional dance and music units from Vietnam.
The genres include short dances, dance suites, short dance dramas, and dance dramas, in styles ranging from folk, classical, and modern, with solo, duo, trio, and group performances.
Regarding artistic criteria, the participating works must have high artistic quality, clearly conveying the content, ideas, and artistic imagery to the audience through elements such as structure, dance language, music handling, character creation, space and time management, props, and acting techniques. Costumes and makeup must align with the purpose, content, and artistic imagery of the work, as well as with the cultural traditions of each region, ethnicity, and nation, and must be appropriate to Vietnamese culture.
The organizers encourage new creations that strongly reflect the cultural identity of various ethnic groups and nations, vividly and deeply reflecting the colorful life of society and humanity. Works that explore new forms of expression, combining with other art forms to enrich the performance of the dance pieces, are also encouraged.
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| The organizers giving flowers to the participating groups |
Domestic units are allowed to participate with one performance of no more than 30 minutes, with no limit on the number of performers for each piece. Each unit is responsible for the copyrights of their participating works, which must be representative and characteristic of the unit, aligning with the festival's artistic criteria, and creatively unique and original.
For international units, the total duration of their performance must not exceed 30 minutes, with no more than 16 members per group. The organizers will award Gold and Silver Medals to performances with high artistic quality based on the evaluations of the Art Council.
Showcasing talent and brilliance on stage
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ta Quang Dong stated that the festival's message is "Gathering, Creativity - Shining Together." Therefore, the organizers want the participating artists and performers, both domestic and international, to fully unleash their creativity and showcase their artistic talents on stage, offering the audience the most remarkable dance performances.
"The festival is also a place to gather the cultural essence of nations around the world through the art of dance. It is an opportunity for Vietnamese and international dancers to share experiences in artistic creation, exchange, and absorb the unique and diverse values of cultural art forms in the period of integration and development," Mr. Dong expressed.
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| The opening performance from the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet |
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee and Member of the Provincial Party Committee, stated that this is the second time Thua Thien Hue has been chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as the venue for the International Dance Festival - a major international cultural event held every three years.
The International Dance Festival 2024 promises to bring memorable and exhilarating moments to visitors and the people of Hue Ancient Capital, through professional dance performances.
According to Mr. Binh, this event is significant in fostering cooperation, cultural exchange, learning, and sharing of experiences between leading dance art units of Vietnam and other countries around the world. At the same time, it is an opportunity to promote the economic, social potential, and the scenic and historical cultural sites of Thua Thien Hue province to both domestic and international friends.
"During the International Dance Festival 2024, we hope that artists, performers, and all of you will have exciting experiences, exploring and discovering the unique cultural values and heritage deeply embedded in the identity of Vietnamese culture, Hue culture, and leave with beautiful memories of the land and its warm, friendly, and hospitable people," Mr. Binh emphasized.
Right after the opening ceremony, there were performances by the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet and the representative art unit from Malaysia.
Story and photos: N. MINH