For ballet artists - those who pursue academic art that requires persistent hard work - the biggest expectation is not only recognition, but also sufficiently practical policies so that they can live with the profession and continue to contribute.
Meritorious Artist Phan Luong - Head of the Dance Troupe, Vietnam National Drama Theatre - said that academic art is in great need of policies that go to the right issues that artists have to face every day.
According to him, ballet is a profession with a short career but very high labor intensity. Many artists spend almost their entire youth practicing and performing, but life is still difficult because income, salary and bonus regimes or professional insurance are not commensurate.
We hope there will be a clearer mechanism for artists to feel secure and stick with the profession for a long time" - he said.
Not only is it a story of income, the creative environment is also something that makes many artists concerned. According to Meritorious Artist Phan Luong, to have a quality ballet work, artists need performance space, staging funds and opportunities to reach the public. However, many programs today still face great pressure on funding, making it difficult for artists to boldly experiment or improve the quality of the work.
He expects to have more creative support funds and long-term companion mechanisms for art units to create motivation for professionals.
If there is no long-term investment in young artists, from scholarships, training to real performance opportunities, it will be very difficult to maintain a successor force" - Meritorious Artist Phan Luong expressed.
Lan Nhi - a ballet actress who has been attached to the profession for 10 years - said that she came to ballet from her mother's guidance and the opportunity to meet an inspiring teacher.
I chose ballet because I want to pursue the difficulty, something that not everyone can do" - she said.
Throughout a decade in the profession, Lan Nhi has never doubted her choice, despite having to go through harsh training pressure and pain that has become "commonplace" for dancers.
According to the young female artist, the biggest difficulty lies not only in physical strength but also in performance pressure. When becoming a soloist, artists must maintain emotions, fully immerse themselves in the role and lead the audience throughout the work.
Leg pain and body pain are normal. But the biggest pressure is how to express the character and keep emotions continuous on stage" - Lan Nhi shared.
What makes her happiest recently is that some special art industries such as ballet and circus are being considered for increased subsidies, and at the same time increased support for rehearsals and performances.
When I heard that information, I felt that artists are being paid more attention to," she said.
Actor Nguyen Duc Hieu - who has been attached to ballet for 13 years - said that keeping artists in the profession is not simply income but a great love for art.
According to him, ballet is a subject that requires accuracy, persistence and a long-term training process. Some people study for decades and are still only at the first levels. But it is this strictness that creates the special attraction of ballet.
This is not a sport for those who want to succeed easily" - Duc Hieu said.
However, the male artist also admitted that most ballet dancers today still have to do many other jobs such as teaching and performing outside events to cover living expenses. Meanwhile, their short careers and physical pressure make them even more in need of appropriate support policies.
According to Duc Hieu, society's increasing interest in balancing economy and culture is a positive sign for artists.
When artists are seen more correctly and supported better, they will have more motivation to contribute. And when ballets develop, it is not only beneficial for artists but also contributes to enriching Vietnamese cultural life" - he expressed.
