[Reading level: B2 – Upper Intermediate]
Thanh Phuong, 25 years old, works as a DJ to earn extra income to support her main profession, affirming that she will not give up on tuồng (traditional Vietnamese opera).
Thanh Phuong is an actress with the Experimental Arts Troupe of the Vietnam National Tuồng Theater. In January, she was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as one of the outstanding figures in the field of performing arts in 2023.
On a daily basis, she spends most of her time rehearsing and performing at the theater. Since last year, she has taken DJ gigs to make ends meet. She began learning DJ performing in late 2021 but had to pause for a year due to Covid-19, resuming afterward. Every day, after office hours, she rides her motorbike more than 10 kilometers to attend music lessons, diligently for several months. About two months after finishing her course, she had her first DJ gig.
At first, Thanh Phuong’s decision was not supported by her teachers and colleagues at the theater, as they believed that being a DJ could negatively impact the traditional image of a tuồng artist. Aware that she represents the younger generation of the Vietnam National Tuồng Theater, she places great importance on maintaining a positive image and a good lifestyle. She set rules for herself, such as not performing shows past 11 PM and wearing dynamic outfits that avoid being too revealing. Gradually, she earned everyone’s trust.
Every month, Thanh Phuong takes on four or five DJ gigs, but there are times when she has none due to her work schedule at her main job. On average, she earns about three million đồng per performance, depending on the location.
Thanh Phuong is happy that since she started working as a DJ, more people have gotten to know her. “Young people often think traditional theater is difficult to approach. I hope they are inspired when they see my youthful, modern energy,” she shared.
The actress frequently mentions her mother, who has guided her and provided her with a proper education. “My mother raised my siblings and me on her own, doing all kinds of jobs so I could go to school without worrying about basic needs,” she said. After graduating and earning a salary of two million dong, Thanh Phuong gave it all to her mother. In August 2020, she became a full-time employee at her theater. Even when she started earning three million dong, she still gave most of it to her mother, relying on her side jobs for personal expenses. She worked as a drummer, played soldier roles, performed in lion dances, modeled for photos, and appeared in music videos and advertisements. “I’m willing to do anything, even for as little as 200,000 dong, as long as it’s honest work,” Thanh Phuong said.
Despite many challenges, Thanh Phương remains steadfast in her commitment to tuồng (a form of traditional Vietnamese theater) because she wants to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage. Born and raised in northern Bac Ninh province, she followed her mother to watch local amateur tuồng and chèo (another traditional form of theater) troupes from a young age. When Thanh Phuong was in ninth grade, the Vietnam Tuồng Theater came to her hometown to recruit actors and musicians. Her mother suggested she try out. Thanh Phuong went to a relative in the village’s tuồng troupe to learn how to recite a few lines from the introduction of the female general Dao Tam Xuan. After completing the audition, she was accepted and became part of the first generation to be recruited, trained, and employed by the theater.
When she moved to Hanoi to study, Thanh Phuong was not yet 15 years old. Studying a classical art form with a sophisticated literary language, there were times when she considered changing careers. At such a young age, with little life experience, she found it difficult to delve deeply into the emotions of the characters she portrayed. She also felt uncertain seeing older actors struggling with unstable incomes, living in shared housing provided by the theater. However, the care and support from her teachers and the theater’s leadership kept her going. “They took care of everything for me, from meals to sleep, so I only had to focus on studying and practicing,” she said. Over time, her love for tuồng gradually deepened.
As one of the few young people pursuing the art of tuồng (traditional Vietnamese opera), Thanh Phương has become a “rare gem” for her family and village. She recalls the time, right after graduation, when she was cast as Mai Huong in the ancient tuồng play Treu Dinh Long Saves the King. For her debut performance at Hồng Hà Theater, the people from her village rented a car to come watch her. Overwhelmed by the flowers and gifts from her fellow villagers, she felt deeply moved and reminded herself to strive harder.
After 10 years of studying and working in the profession, Thanh Phuong has become passionate about the character of the female general Đào Tam Xuân. In 2020, she was entrusted with portraying this character in the National Tuồng and Folk Theater Young Talent Competition. Despite her efforts, she only received a silver medal, which remains a significant regret for her.
Knowing she was disappointed, her teachers and fellow artists at the theater comforted and encouraged her. Thanks to their support, she quickly regained her spirit and went on to win several awards. These included a silver medal for her role as Princess Phat Kim in the tuồng play Becoming King at the 2021 National Theater Festival, and a gold medal for her portrayal of Ho Nguyet Co in Ho Nguyet Co Turns into a Fox at the 2023 National Chèo, Tuồng, and Folk Theater Competition.
Hoang Van Long, acting director of the Vietnam Tuồng Theater, noted that traditional arts, and tuồng in particular, are facing many challenges, with current policies failing to provide actors with a stable livelihood. He commended Thanh Phuong for her passion and great effort to pursue the profession despite coming from a modest family, always taking additional classes to improve her skills. Regarding her work as a DJ, Mr. Long said he fully supports her, but always advises her to maintain a serious and lawful image.
Currently, Thanh Phuong is in her first year at the University of Theater and Cinema, majoring in Public Dance Choreography. Every day, she has to balance her time between her work at the theater, her studies, and her side jobs. She harbors many dreams, determined to continue honing her skills and placing her trust in the resurgence of the tuồng stage.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/dien-vien-tuong-lam-them-dj-de-song-voi-nghe-4790696.html
WORD BANK:
affirm /əˈfɝːm/ (v): khẳng định
commitment to sth /kəˈmɪt.mənt/ (n): cam kết với cái gì
troupe /truːp/ (n): đoàn kịch, gánh hát
outstanding /ˌaʊtˈstæn.dɪŋ/ [B2] (adj): tiêu biểu, nổi bật
the performing arts /pɚˌfɔːr.mɪŋ ˈɑːrts/ (n): nghệ thuật biểu diễn
rehearse /rəˈhɝːs/ [C1] (v): tập luyện
take a gig /ɡɪɡ/ (v): nhận show
make ends meet [C1] (v – idiom): trang trải cuộc sống
pause /pɑːz/ [B2] (v): tạm dừng
colleague /ˈkɑː.liːɡ/ (n): đồng nghiệp
too revealing /rɪˈviː.lɪŋ/ (adj): hở bạo
on average (adv – idiom): trung bình
side job (n): nghề phụ, việc làm thêm
drummer /ˈdrʌm.ɚ/ (n): tay trống
lion dance (n): múa lân
steadfast in sth /ˈsted.fæst/ (adj): kiên định với cái gì
amateur /ˈæm.ə.tʃɚ/ [C1] (adj): không chuyên
recruit /rɪˈkruːt/ [C1] (v): tuyển dụng
recite /rɪˈsaɪt/ (v): kể lại, thuật lại, đọc thơ, lời thoại
sophisticated /səˈfɪs.tə.keɪ.t̬ɪd/ [B2] (adj): phức tạp
delve deeply into sth (v): đào sâu vào cái gì (tìm hiểu sâu)
portray /pɔːrˈtreɪ/ [C2] (v): phác họa
gem /dʒem/ (n): viên ngọc
debut /deɪˈbju/ [C1] (v, n): ra mắt lần đầu
fellow villager (n): người cùng làng
strive /straɪv/ [C2] (v): phấn đấu, nỗ lực
passionate about sth /ˈpæʃ.ən.ət/ [B2] (adj): say mê, đam mê cái gì
entrust sb with sth /ɪnˈtrʌst/ (v): giao việc gì, vai trò gì cho ai
folk /foʊk/ [B1] (n): dân ca, dân gian
regret /rɪˈɡret/ [B2] (n): tiếc nuối
regain one’s spirit (v): vực lại tinh thần
acting director (n): quyền giám đốc
livelihood /ˈlaɪv.li.hʊd/ (n): kế sinh nhai
pursue /pɚˈsuː/ (v): theo đuổi
dance choreography /ˌkɔːr.iˈɑː.ɡrə.fi/ (n): biên đạo múa
harbor a dream /ˈhɑːr.bɚ/ (v): ấp ủ một giấc mơ, hoài bão
hone /hoʊn/ (v): trau dồi, rèn luyện, mài giũa (kỹ năng)
resurgence /rɪˈsɝː.dʒəns/ (n): sự phát triển trở lại
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