[VN Courier 15/7] Tapping the top talent

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Tapping the top talent

More than 50 professional dancers around the country are putting their
moves to the test in the first-ever professional dance contest.
Qualifying rounds were held in Hanoi June 25-27 and in Ho Chi Minh City
July 8-9. The final will take place in Ho Chi Minh City July 12-14.
Unlike previous contests that focused on the dance numbers, the
techniques of the dancers themselves are on the line. The contest hopes
to spotlight the nation's top talent and boost dance in Vietnam as a
whole.
Competitors will perform two dances by Vietnamese choreographers,
including one of 12 compulsory items including such classics as "Bird's
Wings and Sunlight" by people's artists Thai Ly - Xuan Hoa, "The
Desolate Echo" by emeritus artists Cong Nhac and Ba Que, and "Bell
Dance" by emeritus artist Luong Van Tien.

Shaky start

The dance contest was to be held last year, but the Vietnam Dancers'
Association could not raise the funding. This year, the contest is
orgamised by  the Arts Performance Department in collaboration with the
Vietnam Dancers' Association. 
"We were not ready for the contest when we were assigned to organize it.
It took place without careful preparation," an official of the Arts
Performance Department said.
Nearly all 28 dancers in the North knew of their participation in the
contest only a month ago. Artists of the Song, Dance and Music Theatre
had only two weeks to rehearse.
Dance as a whole in Vietnam has been limping along, according to
Emeritus Artist Trinh Xuan Dinh who heads the contest examination board.
It only paid attention to its quantity but not quality, he says. Though
the number of dancers is in the thousands, top soloists are hard to
find.
Mr Dinh said 30 truly talented soloists will emerge from the competition
who may be instrumental in reforming Vietnam's dance arts.

Going for the gold

Almost all competitors from actress Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, 16 years old,
to emeritus artists Thuy Hong and Hoang Oanh, both pushing 40, said they
will be giving everything they've got to take home the prizes.
Prominent among the dancers are Vu Huyen Thanh, Le Vu Long and Nguyen
Tuan Khoi. Vu huyen Thanh is the only one who chose to perform the
technically daunting "Cuu Long Golden Tray."
Nguyen Tuan Khoi chose the Thai Ly's classic "Birds' Wings and
Sunlight," which proved to be the most complicated.
The contest is not only a great personal challenge for the dancers, but
for the judging panel as well.
"Through the contest, the panel's fairness will be assessed," according
to Mr. Nhu Binh, Chief of the Vietnam Dance Association's Administration
Bureau. Any mark two points higher or lower than the panel's average
will be discarded.
Prizes aside, through the current contest and other events, dancers may
find a stepping stone to participation in ASEAN dance events.