 |
| Sometimes, Ca Dao’s lineup also includes young children |
Quyen’s passion for dance began at an early age. Growing up in a family where both parents were teachers, she was encouraged to pursue a solid academic education in the social sciences and took part in provincial- and national-level academic competitions. Alongside that, was her love for dance, quiet and unassuming, yet deep enough to accompany her throughout her journey into adulthood.
“My parents often told me that if I am gifted in both, I should try to live fully in each role,” Ms. Quyen said. And so, she chose to hold on to both, to walk steadily between the classroom and the dance floor. Although it was a demanding path, it was shaped by self-awareness and sustained by an unshaken belief in her passion.
11 years ago, Ca Dao Dance Troupe was founded at a time when the dance scene in Hue offered limited performance opportunities. In its early days, pressure came from all sides, including time constraints, financial challenges, securing performances to sustain operations, and ensuring income for members. For Ms. Quyen, leading a dance troupe was not only a bout artistic creation but also a complex task of organization, management, and sustaining trust.
“Dance is the melody of the body, and that melody always begins in the heart”. This is not only a quote Ms. Quyen cherishes, but also the guiding principle behind Ca Dao’s journey. For her, dance is not merely a profession, but a way of life, where she can live most authentically with her emotions and freely explore layers of culture through each work.
Since 2021, Ca Dao Dance Troupe has operated as a dance troupe under Hoang Ca Dao Event and Performance Co., Ltd. After nearly 4 years of building its reputation, Ca Dao has now entered a phase of consolidating its position, focusing on political-artistic programs, event-based performances, and shows at wedding and banquet venues in Hue.
With nearly 2 decades of dedication to both roles, as the head of a dance troupe and a lecturer in the Faculty of Political Theory, Ms. Quyen believes that balance is achieved through experience and a systematic way of organizing her time. Her day-time is spent in lecture halls with lesson plans, while her night-time belongs to the rehearsal room, filled with lights and music. Each week, alongside her academic work, she sets aside 4 evenings for the dance troupe.
In recent productions, she has seamlessly taken on multiple roles, writing the script, directing, and choreographing. Before the rehearsal everything is meticulously planned, from the narrative and music to the order of practice. “The members of Ca Dao are highly professional. Once I introduce the ideas and movements, they catch on very quickly,” she noted.
Currently, Ca Dao has around 25 members, most of whom are students aged between 20 and 30. What stands out is their strong sense of commitment. Ca Dao is not merely a dance troupe, but a “second home” of youth, where there are disciplines, care, and mentorship between senior and new members. Many former members, even after leaving Hue for work, continue to return to support Ca Dao, preserving it as a cherished part of their youth.
Years in the profession have left Hoang Quyen with many memories, some beautiful, others marked by setbacks, but all have become motivation for her to continue developing herself. In the time ahead, Ca Dao aims to deepen its focus on political-artistic and event performances in Hue, while expanding stable engagements at wedding and banquet venues, ensuring both the troupe’s livelihood and a sustained space for creative expression.
“What I want to spread is the beauty of dance, its cultural significance, and the positive energy that shines from self-expression. Dance allows us to write the poetry of our lives through movement, space, and rhythm. Do not stop when you feel exhausted, stop only when you have completed your own piece of music,” Ms. Hoang Quyen shared.