String puppetry classes are held on weekends, in a space of about 80 square meters, rented by artist Tran Duoc to teach. Before the lesson, he prepares and arranges the puppets neatly for students to choose from. Then, he meticulously guides each movement so that the students can control the puppets with "soul", moving gracefully to the music.
Artist Tran Duoc said: “String puppetry is a thriving art form in many countries, often performed on the streets. In Vietnam, this art has existed for a long time but is still not very popular. For string puppetry to develop, there needs to be more classes and clubs so that audiences, especially children, have the opportunity to access it regularly.”
Having been involved in string puppetry for over 10 years, he has invested in researching and collecting many types of international string puppets, and at the same time, he has edited the costumes to suit Vietnamese culture. “I want the children to feel the beauty of national culture through the Vietnamese ao dai on the puppets,” he said.
According to artist Tran Duoc, the reason for opening the free class came from the fact that when performing, he realized that children loved string puppets but did not have a practice environment. String puppets are light, easy to control, and suitable for children, so the class was opened completely free of charge to encourage children to participate.
After nearly a year of operation, the class has attracted more than 20 students, many of whom are proficient in puppetry. At first, the students were confused because the puppets had many complicated strings, but after only about a month of practice, they were confident in performing. The art of puppetry helps students increase their concentration, practice dexterity and especially create a healthy playground, limiting the time spent using electronic devices.
Artist Tran Duoc hopes to bring this subject into schools as an art experience class. “String puppetry is not too difficult. Children or adults only need 1-2 months of practice to be able to control and perform proficiently. When developed in an educational environment, this subject will have the opportunity to spread widely,” Mr. Duoc shared.
Many students expressed their love for this subject. Hoang Mai Trang (11 years old) said: “At first I found it difficult because the strings easily got tangled, but after 5 months of studying, I got used to it and was able to perform some acts.”
Student Bui Tran Khac Nha (10 years old) shared: “I find this puppetry very fun, every time I hold the puppet I feel relaxed. After 1 year of studying, I have now mastered all the movements when performing.”
Similarly, student Doan Nguyen Phuong Uyen (16 years old) said that she has only been attending the class for a month but has already enjoyed this subject very much. According to Uyen, the puppet’s hip shaking movement is the most difficult because if not controlled properly, the strings can easily get tangled. She also especially loves the “heartbeat” movement, which requires the use of four strings in a row for 16 beats. Although difficult, it brings a feeling of excitement when performed successfully.
With a love for art and a passion for preserving folk culture, artist Tran Duoc's string puppetry class not only helps children access a traditional art form but also contributes to spreading Vietnamese cultural values in the community.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/doi-song-van-hoa/lan-toa-nghe-thuat-mua-roi-day-giua-long-tp-ho-chi-minh-20251017105158920.htm
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