Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper, People's Artist Tong Toan Thang - Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation - outlined the breakthrough roadmap of Vietnamese circus in the new era.
Sir, what are your expectations for the policies from Resolution 80-NQ/TW and Resolution of the 14th Party Congress on cultural development?
- I personally realize that Resolution 80-NQ/TW and Resolution of the 14th Party Congress on cultural development are an opportunity for cultural industries to break through. This is a breath of fresh air, a very new vitality for artists.
This creates equality and systematic, macro investment opportunities. For me, emulation in art cannot be formalistic; it must be associated with professional quality and real creative efficiency.
The circus industry is inherently a dangerous profession with a short career. After so many years of being attached to the profession, what is your biggest concern?
- We must be frank: "Having food can restore morality". Circus artists must trade their youth, even their lives, on the rehearsal floor to have 5 minutes of brilliance. I always aspire to bring a stable life so that brothers can feel secure in their work.
The thinking of the leadership of the Vietnam Circus Federation today is not to sit and wait. We are self-reliant by creating many art products, so that the theater "lights up" continuously. When performances increase, artists' fees will increase accordingly. We also need connection to create an ecosystem, such as combining circus with tourism to spread cultural values to international visitors, and at the same time increase income for brothers and sisters with professional labor.
Resolution of the 14th Party Congress emphasized the preservation of heritage in combination with heritage economy. What breakthrough projects has the Vietnam Circus Federation realized this through?
- We determine that "overcoming difficulties" must go hand in hand with development. Since 2019, the "Huyen su Viet" project was born as evidence of innovative thinking. We chose to combine circus with Cai luong to exploit the story of "Four Immortals". Plays such as Cay Gay Than (about Saint Chu Dong Tu) or Thuong Thien Thanh Mau have touched the audience's emotions with modern circus language on a folk culture background.
Although funding is still limited, on average each year we still build over 20 new programs, exceeding the milestone of 350 performances/year. In fact, the mechanism of theaters under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism does not have a separate budget for professional media, we still have to rely on socialized sources.
Recently, we have opened our doors to welcome students from the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, the Diplomatic Academy... to conduct research and graduation theses as Vietnamese circus is undergoing strong changes. It is your quality theses that have created an extremely effective spillover effect to young people.
The result is "speaking" numbers: During the A50 anniversary with the theme "Country's Mountains and Rivers", thanks to the spread of students, the circus had 10 "ticket-sold" performances. Next, on the A80 occasion, the theater also sold 8 full-seat performances.
He himself is a "legend" with a python circus performance, having traveled around the world. What does that real-world experience help him with in running the Vietnam Circus Federation today?
- More than 40 years in the profession have helped me understand the limits of human beings. In circus art, conquering difficulties is the essence, but I never trade safety for subjectivity. I want to instill in young artists the courage to overcome fear, but it must be based on scientific preparation and steel discipline.
Digital transformation is a requirement set by the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress in the new period. Can you share about the "digitalization" roadmap of the Vietnam Circus Federation?
- This is the key direction. The Federation is strategically cooperating with other units to implement comprehensive digital transformation. Digitizing artists' products is also a way to create a premise for self-reliance and self-strengthening, increasing income for them to regenerate labor. The combination of the "content" creative team of the Vietnam Circus Federation and a professional media platform will create a completely new face for Vietnamese circus.
Looking at the next generation, what is your belief about the future "cultural messengers" in the digital age?
- Young artists today are very practical. To create passion, we must show them a clear destination with international awards and worthy treatment. We aim to organize international Circus Gala programs in 2026, invite foreign delegations to exchange and bring Vietnamese artists to the world.
I believe that when artists have will, balance and the "supporting hands" from the mechanisms and policies of the Party and State, circus art will continue to reach further. Maintaining balance in life as well as in circus: That is maintaining faith and bravery in the face of all fluctuations.
Thank you, sir!
