Behind the bright lights

The artists' voices bring joy to people in remote areas.

In love with the lights

These days, the Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe is focusing on practicing and performing for people in communes and wards in the province, aiming to welcome the 1st Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030.

Director Quan Anh Tuan, Deputy Head of the Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe, ran around the practice room, sometimes correcting the movements, sometimes emphasizing the meaning of the performance for the actors to understand clearly. Mr. Tuan's main job is to produce music and be a stage director, so he often accompanies the actors to perform, serving the people in the communes in the province. His work schedule is usually very regular, at night he studies composition, harmonizes, arranges, and stages the performance, and during the day he continuously exchanges with his fellow practitioners.

It sounds simple, but the research, composition, and staging of thematic performances require the director to have knowledge, synthesis, and artistic perception. Therefore, before each art program commemorating historical milestones, people will see Mr. Tuan scratching his head in the library or tirelessly visiting the homes of historical witnesses, to "Tell the audience old stories through art performances on stage."

Director Quan Anh Tuan shared: Any position in the arts is difficult, singers and dancers in difficult mountainous provinces have it even harder. They enter the profession early, most of them are 16-17 years old and have the talent to leave home to study and practice. After finishing their professional studies, they struggle with the profession, working in difficult conditions. Entering the profession early is hard and tiring, but the time spent working is short, usually dancers will not be over 45 years old.

Standing in front of the mirror stained with time, dancers Ban Hoang Duy (born in 2005) and Trieu Thi Dieu (born in 2004) are sweating as they practice difficult movements. They both studied dance since grade 9 and 10 and have just graduated from the Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts. In their conversation with us, the two young people were innocent: We have heard many seniors share about the profession, and know about the difficulties ahead. But we are so in love with the stage lights that we just walk towards the applause and smiles of the audience...

Motivation from the audience

A practice session of artists from the Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe. Photo: Document

While learning about the hardships and difficulties of actors in the arts, we met Ms. Hoai Thu in Bac Kan ward. She used to be a singer and MC of the Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe. Due to health reasons, Ms. Thu recently resigned from her job, but to many people, Ms. Hoai Thu is associated with the image of a beautiful, graceful girl with a sweet, emotional voice and singing voice.

In the heart-to-heart talk, Ms. Hoai Thu smiled gently: When I was a teenager, I followed my brothers and sisters to perform. When I first started working, the salary was low, the province was newly established and there were few programs and events, so I had to do many extra jobs... All the other actors had to find extra jobs.

More than 20 years on stage, that time is long enough for Ms. Thu to experience many emotions with the profession. The happiest moment is when standing in the bright lights, everyone clapping nonstop, the audience's faces seem to blend with the actors on stage. Although no longer attached to the profession, for Ms. Thu those are years full of pride.

The Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe is a public art unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The troupe is responsible for staging and performing art programs to serve political tasks, major holidays, cultural events, and at the same time bringing songs to people in remote, isolated and extremely disadvantaged areas.

With a force of 83 professional staff, artists and actors, on average each year the Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe performs more than 150 art programs to serve people in remote communes and villages.

Despite many difficulties, with their love for the profession and dedication, the artists are still tirelessly bringing their songs and voices to every corner of the country. Each program and performance is not only a spiritual food to serve the people, but also a bridge to preserve and spread the cultural identity of ethnic groups, contributing to building a rich cultural and spiritual life in Thai Nguyen homeland.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202509/sau-anh-den-ruc-ro-58e2fcb/