Dance to lift the wings of beautiful dreams...

“My whole life has been devoted to dance and it is dance that has given me wings to fly to beautiful dreams…”. With a hearty, enthusiastic voice, full of memories, mixed with tears of pride, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh shared with me about his journey of dedication and devotion to the country’s dance industry.

Uncle Ho met with artists of the Vietnam Music and Dance Theater at the Presidential Palace in 1956. Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh, first row, third from left. (Photo: NVCC)

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh was born in 1939 and began his career in dance in 1953 when he was selected by musician Luu Huu Phuoc and artist Hoang Chau from among hundreds of talented students to join the Central People's Art Troupe in the Viet Bac resistance zone.

The years of his youth, crossing forests and mountains on dangerous battlefields to perform for officers and soldiers on battlefields in the South and the North, forged a steadfast and resilient artist and soldier, Nhu Binh.

At the same time, that wonderful milestone gave him the opportunity to meet the father of the nation, Ho Chi Minh, to absorb his teachings: "Live your life to the fullest for art and your beloved Fatherland!"

Artist - warrior spirit

In June 1957, Nguyen Nhu Binh was admitted to the first dance class in Vietnam, trained by two famous Korean dance experts, Ms. Chu Hue Duc and Mr. Kim Te Hoang.

Experience on the battlefield, combined with a strong passion for dance, gave Nhu Binh wings to unleash her creativity when she was trained systematically under the instruction of excellent teachers at the "cradle" of the dance industry, the Vietnam Dance School (now the Vietnam Dance Academy).

From here, Nhu Binh was continuously selected to perform and compete in many countries around the world and won many Gold and Silver medals for Vietnam.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh takes a photo with the late General Secretary Le Duan. (Photo: NVCC)

His talent was confirmed, in 1960, he had the honor of participating in the production of the dance drama "Tam Cam" and the opera "Evgeny Onegin" by Pushkin and Tchaikovsky to serve the 3rd National Party Congress.

During this period, Nhu Binh studied and performed everywhere in the country and abroad, asserting himself through many roles. However, with the spirit of an artist - soldier, from 1961-1971, he volunteered to serve in fierce battlefields, in order to use his talent to encourage the spirit of his compatriots and heroic soldiers to overcome the hardships and fierceness of war for the great cause of national defense.

At the end of 1972, Nhu Binh was admitted to the ballet directing department of the Lunatraxky Academy of Theatre Arts in Moscow. During her studies at Lunatraxky, Nhu Binh maintained her form and burning passion for art.

Since he was a student, Nhu Binh composed many dance works. One of them was “Spring by the Stream”, which was staged for the Soviet Union’s Lovchev Art Troupe, performed in 1976 in Moscow to raise funds to contribute to the construction of the Hanoi Children’s Palace. Therefore, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh is considered one of the first people to lay the foundation for the Palace.

In 1977, after graduating with honors and returning home, Nhu Binh was invited to work at the Vietnam Music and Dance Theater. The new knowledge learned from abroad, combined with the foundation he had at home, and above all, his love for his homeland and country, made Nhu Binh's perspective more open, full of aesthetics but also very real.

From his role as an actor who successfully performed dance works such as “Doi bo”, “Theo co giai phong”, “Mot ong, hai ba”, “Thay thay toi toi”, “Khen meo”, “Tu torch week”, “Xuoi be”, “Trong Tay Nguyen”, “Mua chuong”, “Duong ra tien tuyen”, “Mua xuan Tay Nguyen”, “Bac Nam ruot hoi”, “Cam tu quan”..., he also affirmed his name as a choreographer and general director for many major art programs.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh performs the work "Following the Liberation Flag" by choreographer Professor, Doctor, People's Artist Le Ngoc Canh. (Photo: NVCC)

Indelible mark in the profession

It can be said that Nhu Binh's mark is very strong in the major political art programs of the country and events of provinces and cities across the country, including the art program to welcome the 10th National Congress of the Party; the art program to celebrate the 990th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi; the art program to welcome the Dien Bien victory; the art program to serve the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi; the 4th and 12th Dance Festivals in Moscow...

The late Professor, Doctor, People's Artist Le Ngoc Canh - former Vice President of the Vietnam Dance Artists Association once exclaimed about the creativity and hard work of his conscientious colleague: "Nhu Binh is truly an artist full of passion for his profession and the Association's work; an artist who speaks, acts, writes, and sacrifices himself for his profession and work!"

In June 1990, at the First Congress of the Vietnam Dance Artists Association, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh was elected as the Chief of the Association's Office. In addition, he directly collaborated, advised, and assisted with cultural and artistic programs of agencies and organizations to dance and ballroom dancing playgrounds for companies, businesses, and provincial unions across the country. His enthusiasm and passion left a good impression on partners and audiences.

Artist Nhu Binh performs the work "Pipe Dance" by choreographer Meritorious Artist Minh Hien with a male dance group from the Vietnam National Music, Dance and Dance Theater. (Photo: NVCC)

Spreading Vietnamese dance to the world

With a deep love for the art of dance, with the spirit of an artist passionate about research, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh has diligently researched, written and published many good articles with in-depth theoretical content about the art of dance. He is always concerned about how to spread the quintessence of Vietnamese dance art to the world, promoting and introducing the beauty of this art form to friends around the world.

Because of that burning desire, despite his "late afternoon" age, he and his beloved wife, television director Phuong Cham, are continuously invited by overseas Vietnamese organizations to stage dance plays for major art programs in France, Germany, Czech Republic, Russia, Laos, etc.

In 2017, with the permission of the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, the representative of Vietnamese people in Germany invited Meritorious Artist Nhu Binh to be the general director of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Program in Berlin.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh speaks at a conference. (Photo: NVCC)

The program resonated and left a lasting impression on the leaders of embassies of various countries and Vietnamese people living far from home. They gave him many compliments and admiration for the wonderful “ambassador” who used Vietnamese dance to build and strengthen solidarity and friendship with countries around the world.

The passion for art still burns in the artist's heart and mind, making him never stop thinking about dance. Therefore, after retiring, he continued to be elected as the Permanent Vice President of the Hanoi Dance Artists Association.

Associate Professor, Dr. People's Artist Ung Duy Thinh - former Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Dance Artists Association once spoke about his colleague with respect and admiration: "In an artist of 85 years old, 70 years of experience, still with cheerful eyes, passionately talking about dance, I suddenly understood that, behind those awards, certificates, and certificates of merit is a continuous journey of life with so much passion and enthusiasm in hardship. In my own way, that flame burns forever...".

Someone once said that if personality is the quality that makes people become themselves, then talent is what makes an individual unique. This saying is indeed true for Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh - a person who is complete in both talent and personality.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh and Soviet experts staged a dance work. (Photo: NVCC)

It is difficult to list all the achievements he has made in the long journey of more than 70 years of dedication to the country's dance art. Just know that his mark has been, is and will forever be imprinted in the hearts of friends, colleagues and audiences who love Vietnamese dance art. That is a worthy reward for a true artist who dares to devote himself to his passion.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Binh was honored to receive the Uncle Ho Badge from President Ho Chi Minh. In addition, he was awarded the First Class Anti-American Resistance Medal, the Cultural Warrior Medal, the Third Class Labor Medal, the For the Young Generation Medal, and Certificates of Merit from the Central Secretariat of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Union, etc. by the State.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nsut-nguyen-nhu-binh-mua-nang-canh-nhung-giac-mo-dep-279289.html