NTTU Performing Arts Students Spread the Cultural Colors of Kinh Bac Through the Project “Xuôi dòng Quan họ”

Participating in the art project “Downstream of Quan Ho” under the theme “Joy at the Lim Festival”, students from the Faculty of Performing Arts at Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU) have the opportunity to gain direct hands-on training in a real-world performance environment, hone their stage skills, and work alongside a professional artistic team. Beyond offering memorable career experiences, the project contributes to bringing the beauty of Quan Ho folk singing and the cultural colors of the Kinh Bac region closer to the public, especially the younger generation.

Learning the Trade from Practical Stage Experience

For arts students, participating in a real performance program is not only an opportunity to stand on stage but also a vivid, practical lesson in the trade. From practicing and working with directors, choreographers, and musicians, to artists and technical rehearsals with sound and lighting, students step-by-step approach the process of building and organizing a professional art production.

Participating in the “Downstream of Quan Ho” project, Vocal Music students from NTTU’s Faculty of Performing Arts directly perform acts deeply rooted in national cultural identity. Through rehearsals and live performances, students apply the knowledge learned in lectures to practice—ranging from vocal techniques, acting, and body language to teamwork coordination and handling on-stage situations.

Performances by students from the Faculty of Performing Arts

In particular, students were directly guided during rehearsals and performances by M.A. Nguyen Le Thanh Hai—a lecturer in the Faculty of Performing Arts who also served as General Director and Artistic Advisor of the program. The guidance of their lecturer helped students not only refine their professional skills but also gain a clear understanding of how an artistic production is formed, from initial concept and rehearsal to the final public stage presentation.

A real-world working environment also demands strict discipline, punctuality, responsibility, and adaptability. Throughout their participation in the project, students demonstrated great effort, an eager-to-learn attitude, and a strong passion for the craft. Through each practice session, they not only perfected their acts but also gradually developed a clearer awareness of an artist’s responsibility to their work, colleagues, and audience.

Spreading the Beauty of Quan Ho Folk Songs and Kinh Bac Culture

“Downstream of Quan Ho” was conceptualized with the goal of bringing the unique values of Quan Ho folk singing closer to the public. Centered around the theme “Joy at the Lim Festival”, the program recreated the cultural space of Kinh Bac through music, vocals, dance, and stage staging, highlighting the courtship romance and the vibrant spring festival atmosphere characteristic of the Quan Ho region.

Through each performance, stories about people, life, and cultural values passed down through generations were expressed in artistic language. By directly performing folk-inspired pieces, students had the chance to delve deeper into traditional musical materials, emotional expressions, and the distinct characteristics of Quan Ho performance styles.

This was also an opportunity for young artists to better recognize their role in preserving and continuing national cultural heritage. Instead of engaging with heritage solely through theory, students got to practice, feel, and convey those values using their own artistic abilities.

Integrating traditional cultural materials into educational and performance practice thus carries profound meaning. Students cultivate appreciation for the original value of heritage while developing creative thinking to bring traditional elements closer to contemporary artistic life.

Accompanying Students in a Professional Artistic Environment

Creating a complete artistic production requires collaboration across many roles, from directors, artistic advisors, music directors, and choreographers to performers and the technical crew behind the stage. Being directly involved in this environment provides students with professional experience that is difficult to attain within classroom walls alone.

In the “Downstream of Quan Ho” project, NTTU Faculty of Performing Arts students had the opportunity to work alongside General Director & Artistic Advisor Nguyen Le Thanh Hai, Music Director Khai Nguyen, Choreographer Thyy Thyy, the Anh Duong Dance Troupe, as well as artists, technical, sound, lighting, and media crews, along with partner organizations.

General Director & Artistic Advisor M.A. Nguyen Le Thanh Hai with participating students

The mentorship and collaboration of this professional team helped students acquire practical knowledge, performance experience, and an understanding of how to manage an artistic program. More importantly, they developed teamwork skills, learning to listen, coordinate, and share responsibility for the overall quality of the production.

The Faculty of Performing Arts extends its sincere gratitude to the Organizing Committee of the “Downstream of Quan Ho” project, the BLing student group, artists, experts, and partner units for accompanying and creating opportunities for students to learn and gain meaningful practical experience on their career paths.

From Stage Experience to Career Preparation

The Faculty of Performing Arts at Nguyen Tat Thanh University emphasizes connecting training with industry practice, enabling students not only to acquire academic knowledge but also to join real-world programs, projects, and performances.

Through the “Downstream of Quan Ho” project, students gained additional opportunities to validate their knowledge, develop stage confidence, and build professional experience. From rehearsal sessions and technical run-throughs to performing live in front of an audience, every experience helped them better understand industry demands and progressively enhance their capabilities.

Particularly when engaging directly with a project that draws from traditional cultural elements, students gained a deeper appreciation of a young artist’s responsibility in preserving, continuing, and spreading national cultural heritage.

“Downstream of Quan Ho” thus served not merely as a performance program, but as an integral chapter in the academic and professional growth of students in the Faculty of Performing Arts at NTTU. From the lecture hall to the actual stage, each experience equips students with knowledge, fortitude, and confidence to keep innovating, pursuing their passion, and asserting themselves along their artistic journey.

Faculty of Performing Arts