Bringing traditional Vietnamese opera to young people.

Many performances are held in public spaces, pedestrian streets, parks, schools, museums, or appear in cultural exchange programs, tourism- related shows, and cultural events…

In particular, traditional Vietnamese opera is gradually gaining a presence on online platforms through performance clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and educational promotional materials.

While it cannot completely replace the in-person experience, the digital space has contributed to preserving, spreading, and facilitating access for the public, especially young people who have fewer opportunities to experience traditional theater in the old way.

In this new journey, young people themselves play a crucial role in transmitting traditional values. There are already many social media channels run by young people focusing on traditional opera in particular and folk art in general.

Through innovative presentations, young people have provided basic knowledge about traditional Vietnamese opera, such as the meaning of different types of makeup and masks; the meaning of gestures, walking movements, and beard-stroking... helping viewers understand more and thus develop an interest in and love for traditional Vietnamese opera.

However, the shift in performance spaces also presents many challenges. When moving away from traditional venues, traditional opera faces the risk of being simplified, performed in fragmented pieces, or presented to the public in a illustrative, fast-paced manner.

Balancing the preservation of core values with adaptation to the new context requires careful consideration from art organizations, cultural managers, artists, and even digital content creators... whose content focuses on traditional Vietnamese opera.

From a heritage linked to the past, traditional Vietnamese opera is gradually becoming a vibrant cultural entity, present in contemporary life in many different forms.

In the context of Ho Chi Minh City's goal of building a creative city, creating suitable performance spaces for traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) is not just a matter for a single art form, but also a measure of how the city treats its traditional cultural heritage.

Preserving the resounding sound of the ceremonial drums in the city streets today is a way to connect the past with the present, to safeguard identity amidst the ever-evolving urban landscape.

TỊNH UYỂN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dua-hat-boi-den-with-nguoi-tre-post837541.html