After 50 years of operation, the Vietnam Circus Federation has established a good reputation with both local and foreign audiences. On this occasion, reporter Giang Tu of Vietnam Business Forum (VIB Forum) had an interview with Mr. Vu Ngoan Hop, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation about its development plans for the future.
Evaluating the 50-year operation and development of Vietnam’s circus sector, have you any comments you would like to make?
The past 50 years marked and recognized great contributions of generations of artists to the development of Vietnam’s circus sector. Since then, many generations have popularised Vietnamese art of circus nationwide and overseas and gained many international prizes, proving their talent and hard training.
Specifically, the National Circus Festivals held in 1981, 1987, 1995, 2002 are important events, marking the development of Vietnamese circus artists’ rank. International Circus Festivals held in Vietnam in 1997, 2004 and successes gained in Circus festivals held in France, Italy, Monaco, Hungary, German, Spain, China and Kore have enhanced the status of Vietnamese circuses on the world’s circus stages, remarkably contributing to the development of Vietnam’s stage in general. Thanks to such effective contributions and significant successes, it has been rewarded the first class Labour Order, the third class Independence Order, and the leading unit of culture and information sector for many years.
What do you think of audience comments that the Vietnamese circus has not seen many changes and has not created its own style?
Firstly, I have to affirm that our circus acts have not conducted any basic changes in scenario but actors are more and more professional with more difficult and complicated movements, meeting international standards. Contents are always changed to meet audiences’ tastes.
In reality, the circus has its own characteristics that are far different from others. Singers can sing other songs, dancers can perform many acts but a circus artist only enhances his/her professionalism of one act in his lifetime. To perform a circus act on the stage, performers have to begin practicing when they are young and it takes them at least 5 years in a circus training school.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of foundation, does the federation have any special programmes for audiences?
For a long time, Vietnamese audiences have only enjoyed normal circus acts performed on round stages. On this occasion, we will develop a programme performed on many different stages so that audiences can enjoy at the same time 2 or 3 performances. We want to help audiences follow the performance continuously from the beginning to the end with a systematic structure. Each item will begin with music and introduction, which is different from previous ones. The programme is estimated to last from 45 to 55 minutes.
Welcom to Central Circus Theatre, Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hanoi.
Vietnamese
