Being excited to celebrate Vietnam Stage Day after pandemic

After a quiet anniversary of the theater sector, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year, Binh Duong’s writers and artists are very excited to welcome this meaningful anniversary. Cultural and artistic programs to celebrate Vietnam Stage Day here are also more special and attractive than many other places.

Always be grateful to stage ancestors

During the period when the stage was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and facing fierce competition with other forms of audiovisual art, all artists and writers well complied with regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control, strictly implementing the motto of “stay where they are". However, at the altars of the stage ancestors, there has been a reverence of incense filled with respect from artists and writers who have always been devoted to the Vietnamese stage. Now, when the stage has "lighted up" again, they are devoted to art again.

An item "Grateful to the ancestors" is performed by Binh Duong “Don Ca Tai Tu” club

With a face full of excitement, radiant smile when talking with us, people’s artisan Thu Hong said that on Vietnam Stage Day, artists expressed their belief that they were loved by the stage ancestors and allowed them to pursue their favorable career, helping them try harder to be loved by the audience. Being sincere towards the ancestors was a good sign, showing artists' respect and passion for their career. This was also an opportunity for young people to meet and learn experience from their predecessors to better understand, become more attached to the profession and follow the footsteps of previous generations to preserve and develop stage arts in general and traditional art in particular.

Although it is not the cradle of Cai Luong (southern traditional opera), Binh Duong has appeared many talented people in the field of composing and performing theatrical items. According to musician Pham Dac Hien, Chairman of provincial Association of Literature and Arts, in November 2015, Binh Duong had 12 artists awarded the title of Excellent Artist by the State. In March 2019, 1 artist was awarded the title of People's Artist by the State and 2 artists were conferred the title of Excellent Artist. In 2021, the association asked for the State to consider and award the title of excellent artist to 3 artists with achievements in the fields of “Don Ca Tai Tu” (southern fold music) and stage. After Duong Thi Phuong Thao, the winner of the Bong Lua Vang (Golden Rice), a traditional music contest in 2018, Huynh Kim Thoa, the fourth prize of the Golden Rice Contest in 2019, Binh Duong’s theater artists and audience of the “cai luong” art were very happy to know that Nguyen Thi Han Ni won the first prize in the Golden Rice Contest 2020... Currently in Binh Duong, many amateurs who are still passionately participating in all activities of the “don ca tai tu” throughout 9 districts, towns and cities, step by step bringing the movement of “Don ca tai tu” and stage art back into operation in the "new normal" state.

Many activities to celebrate Vietnam Stage Day

In order to pay tribute to the stage ancestors who have contributed to preserving and promoting the nation's traditional theatrical art, many places in the province held ceremonies to mark Vietnam Stage Day with special artistic programs.

On the evening of September 5, provincial Literature and Arts Association held a ceremony to mark the Vietnam Stage Day 2022 at provincial Arts and Culture Center. The ceremony was held with many solemn rituals, such as: starting ancient orders, starting ceremony music, reciting incense, offering incense... This was an opportunity for artists to offer incense to their ancestors in stage art such as tuong (classical drama), cheo (traditional opera in the north) and cai luong (reformed opera in the south)... This was a chance to pay tribute to ancestors who have contributed to the traditional stage sector, helping artists to turn to their ancestors with the spirit of "when drinking water, remember its source". At the ceremony, artists performed to serve the audience with items, namely "Grateful to stage ancestors”, "Silkworm spins silk", "Vuong Thuy Kieu"…

In the afternoon of September 6, a ceremony to mark Vietnam Stage Day took place at Di An city’s Center for Culture, Information and Sports. After the solemn worshiping rites, aptitude clubs and groups in the city performed together. Contributing to the program were 5 units, namely Di An city’s Traditional Music Club, Dong Hoa ward’s “Don Ca Tai Tu” club , Dat Di “Don Ca Tai Tu” club, Tan Dong Hiep ward’s “Don Ca Tai Tu” club and Di An city’s mass artistic club. The units perfoemed special dancing and singing items to praise Vietnamese traditional music and pay tribute to the theater’s ancestors.

Along with the solemn rituals, the ceremony to mark Vietnam Stage Day at Thuan An city’s Center for Culture, Information and Sports attracted the participation of ritual boards, art troupes, businesses, artisans, artists, collaborators from localities in and out of the city. The artists presented their ancestors with many special performances, namely "Gratitude to the ancestors", "Sacred soul of mountains and rivers", "An appointment for the ripe fruit season", "Luc Van Tien"... Also on the afternoon of the same day, a “Don Ca Tai Tu” exchange program named "Respectfully presenting to the ancestors" took place at Dau Tieng district’s Center for Culture, Sports and Radio. The program had the presence of artists from Dau Tieng district’s “Don ca tai tu” club, Duc Linh district’s “Don ca tai tu” club in Binh Thuan province and Go Dau district's “Don ca tai tu” club in Tay Ninh province.

Reported by Minh Hieu-Translated by Kim Tin