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A Tuong play performed by Dao Tan Tuong Theatre’s artists at Lunar New Year’s Eve Festival. Photo H.T |
Binh Dinh Tuong (classical drama) art is the invaluable cultural heritage, but the popularization of Tuong is now facing many difficulties. Many people, particularly the young, haven’t treasured Tuong art.
Inefficiency
Dao Tan Tuong Theatre has still popularized Tuong by performing Tuong plays, but most of their performances took place in other localities whilst there is almost no event in Quy Nhon city.
“The Theatre’s leaders have prepared some plans to bring people close to Tuong art in the coming time,” said the Theatre’s vice director Gia Thien. “A group of 10 artists will be formed and they will perform in schools and localities, let alone plays recorded and its own website.”
The establishment of a club for traditional arts is also an advantage, promoting the development of Tuong art. However, not many tourists could thoroughly understand Tuong art when watching plays performed by the club’s artists because most of them are extracts.
Alongside these, typical features of Tuong arts including dances, make-up, costume, and music haven’t been taken advantage of yet to leave good impression on tourists.
Prof. Nguyen Thuyet Phong said the combination of musical instruments in Tuong arts could be one of attractions of luring foreign tourists. Besides, dances will be able to win the audience’s hearts if they are presented in foreign languages.
Change required
New measures are now required to bring Tuong close to public. Miss Mai Phuong Thuy’s exhibition of Tuong masks became well known at Tay Son-Binh Dinh Festival 2008.
However, not many people know that artist Huu Thong working at Dao Tan Tuong Theatre also has the similar collection of Tuong masks. In addition, choreographer Hoang Viet has designed many traditional costumes. These collections haven’t been showed in public.
Popularizing Tuong also requires other forms of art, particularly photography. Many pictures of Tuong performance won valuable prizes. They could play as a bridge to popularize Tuong arts.
An exhibition of Tuong displaying collections of Tuong masks, costumes, and pictures of Tuong arts should be held at the upcoming international festival of Vietnamese traditional martial arts.
In the long term, the construction of a museum of Tuong art may help to preserve and develop Tuong in the central province of Binh Dinh.
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