Young dancers shine at regional festival

HÀ NỘI — Young Vietnamese ballet dancers won the silver medal at the 6th Asia Arts Festival (AAF) taking place in Singapore.

The first time taking part in the event, the youngsters performed Carmen, choreographed by established ballet dancer Đàm Hàn Giang.

“Carmen is a very popular ballet and it is very difficult for the little dancers to perform,” said Giang. “I choreographed an extract from the ballet with my own ideas to feature Carmen’s development from childhood to adulthood.”

“I’m satisfied with my students’ performance. They danced very well despite not having a dress rehearsal like some of the other groups. There were more than 100 dances competing in one day so there was no time for a dress rehearsal,” Giang said.

Giang is the youngest recipient of the title Meritorious Artist awarded by the State and is working at Việt Nam National Opera and Ballet. He has won many prizes including gold medal and the best dancer award at the National Dance Festival. His popular roles include Giselle, Chipiniana, and La sylphide.

The 4-minute Carmen by Vietnamese dancers is one of the rare classical ballets at the festival which included more than 100 dances, mainly contemporary ballets from 14 countries including South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Britain and France.

The dancers are from six to 11 years old from Hanoi Kids Art Centre. They had three months to prepare to be the first Vietnamese representatives at the AAF.

This year’s festival was held at the National Museum of Singapore and the newly renovated Singapore Conference Hall from July 26-29. Since 2013, AAF has provided a worthy platform for musicians and dancers from all genres to showcase their talents, skills and art forms before an illustrious panel of adjudicators.

It has attracted 1,800 participants from 17 countries from Asia and other parts of the world, for example Russia, Germany, Scotland and New Zealand. — VNS