Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh – Director of river festivals

(NLDO) - The mark of an artist from the dance village to the festival has left a deep impression in the hearts of art-loving audiences in the South.

Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh

After more than 40 years of working in dance, Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh - former Deputy Director in charge of art direction of Can Tho City Cultural Center - has affirmed his position as one of the representative faces of performing arts in the Mekong Delta region.

The transformation of Huynh Nhat Danh

From his early days as a dancer at Hau Giang Dance and Musical Theatre Troupe in 1981, he soon showed his special talent in music appreciation and physical acting. The transformation from dancer to choreographer, then to general stage director is a journey of passion and dedication.

Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association, said: "For Mr. Huynh Nhat Danh, each dance performance is a graceful movement, a storytelling language of the soul of the river delta region."

Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh

Huynh Nhat Danh - Artistic journey and achievements

Born and raised in a collective artistic environment, Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh soon realized that a dancer cannot shine alone. He persevered in studying at the University of Dance Choreography organized by the Vietnam Dance Artists Association, becoming a choreographer with his own style: rich in folklore, full of life, creative in artistic images.

His works have been honored at many national professional festivals such as: Gold Medal for the performances: "Lotus Fragrance for Uncle Ho", "Weaving Faith", "Purple Water Hyacinth Floating on the River", "Happy Planting Season", "Tam Vu", "Moonlit Night Wishes"... Silver Medal for the performances: "Ripe Fruit Season", "Ngo Boat Racing Festival", "Thanksgiving Ceremony", "Homeland and Mother's Lullaby"... A Prize for the works "Can Tho Joyful Festival"; A Prize "Introduction to Excerpts of Folk Festival"... These are works that delicately combine folk dance, contemporary music and dramatic elements.

Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh

He was awarded the Third Class Labor Medal and many Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh was evaluated by experts as "a model worker - an inspiration for the young generation in the West".

The mark of the director's hand

A vivid demonstration of the talent and creativity of Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh is the art program "Songs for the Party", which took place on the evening of September 28 at Luu Huu Phuoc Park, Can Tho City, to celebrate the success of the 1st Congress of Can Tho City Party Committee, term 2025-2030.

The program was directed by the City Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee - Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City, chaired by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with the participation of hundreds of artists, singers, dancers, music groups and dance troupes in the Mekong Delta region.

Under his artistic direction, the program was staged into two main chapters: "Under the glorious Party flag" and "Can Tho - Aspiration to rise" - expressing the spirit of pride, gratitude and aspiration to build the homeland. From the medley "Bustling Homeland Festival", "Party Flag", "Praise to President Ho" to "Can Tho, the green city" or "Can Tho reaching high, reaching far"...

Every performance is elaborately staged, combining music - dance - image projection, stage lighting as an expressive whole, blending professional art and popular spirit.

Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh (middle) and actors and singers participating in the performance of the program "Songs for the Party"

The teacher - the one who inspires

Not only creative, he is also a trainer of many generations of young artists in Can Tho and neighboring provinces. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Dance Artists Association in charge of the Southwest region, he is an advisor, judge, and art consultant for many festivals and projects, contributing to spreading the grassroots dance movement and elevating the performing arts in the Mekong Delta region.

He once shared: "A dance work may only last for a few minutes of performance, but a generation of artists can make a land famous with the dance language that is very typical of each region. My teacher - the late People's Artist Dang Hung once taught and educated, we must know how to pass on the flame of love for the profession to the younger generation."

Looking back at the artistic journey of Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh, it can be affirmed that he is a symbol of dedication and persistent creativity, a storyteller through dance, bringing Western dance art beyond the boundaries of rivers and waters, into the development of contemporary art.

From left to right: Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung, painter Tran Thien and Meritorious Artist Huynh Nhat Danh on the Vietnamese Theatre Tradition Day held in Can Tho

"The program "Songs for the Party" is a testament to the organizational talent, vision and passion of Huynh Nhat Danh - the keeper of Can Tho dance soul, the director of river festivals" - Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nsut-huynh-nhat-danh-dao-dien-cua-nhung-le-hoi-song-nuoc-196251030062216125.htm