Having only been familiar with and practicing shuffle dance for 3 years, Ms. Tran Thi Lien (born in 1975), in Ward 4, Ho Xa town, Vinh Linh district, has developed her own club with hundreds of members. In particular, from her passion for this vibrant street dance, she has become a shuffle dance coach and together with those who share the same passion, spread the practice movement in the locality; participated in exchanges and competitions in many shuffle dance tournaments in and outside the province...
“ Conquer” shuffle dance
Talking to us, Ms. Lien shared her joy when she and her friends who share the same passion for shuffle dance just returned from the 2024 National Shuffle Dance and Dance, Folk Dance Tournament. At this tournament, "Team Quang Tri" led by Ms. Lien excelled over many strong teams from provinces and cities across the country to win third prize in the shuffle dance category.
The team named "Team Quang Tri" won third prize in the shuffle dance category at the 2024 National Shuffle Dance and Dance, Folk Dance Competition - Photo: LT
Talking about her journey to shuffle dance - a fairly new and youthful modern dance, Ms. Lien said: "Before, I participated in yoga but did not pursue it for long. When I learned about shuffle dance, seeing the joyful dances with the harmony between music and free, liberal steps, I began to be passionate and determined to conquer it."
In early 2022, after researching and browsing social networking sites, Ms. Lien was very interested in shuffle dance. However, at that time in Quang Tri, not many people knew about and practiced or taught this subject. Unable to practice directly, she searched and registered for an online course from Coach Nguyen Phuong and began her journey to pursue professional shuffle dance.
At the beginning of her practice, Ms. Lien suffered many injuries when performing a combination of heel movements, kicking, rotating, and twisting her feet. Normal legs are only used to moving and walking lightly, but when practicing shuffle dance, they have to stretch the muscles, open the joints, and work a lot on the toes, so it is very painful and tiring. However, Ms. Lien still persevered and did not give up, determined to achieve the results she expected.
“Practicing and getting used to a sport while learning online is extremely difficult, looking through the phone screen to practice with the steps is even more difficult. However, the more I learn, the more I find this sport very attractive because of the gentle and decisive movements, the coordination with the cheerful music, the clear beat makes the practitioner feel relaxed. Learning in depth about foot techniques, through each exercise, I feel the dynamism and flexibility of the body, my legs are getting stronger and stronger”, said Ms. Lien.
In addition to learning from the coach, she often watches videos online to grasp the techniques and learn from the good things of previous practitioners. When she mastered the techniques and clearly felt the effects of practicing shuffle dance, Lien decided to instruct her group of 5 friends to practice together. From her small group, Lien recorded some videos of shuffle dances and shared them on social networks.
The effect of the energetic dances has made many women in the area love them and come to her to ask to practice dancing together. In April 2023, Ms. Lien officially established the Lien Tran shuffle dance club in Ho Xa town with the passion of spreading positive energy, helping people practice and improve their health through sports dance steps. From here, her club has attracted more and more members to participate, her passion has begun to bring good results...
The first "sweet fruits"
Thanks to its practical health and mental benefits, shuffle dance is becoming more and more popular, and Ms. Lien's club is becoming more and more crowded. She said that since the club was founded, the total number of students she has taught is about 150 people from many communes and towns in Vinh Linh district. After mastering the techniques, Ms. Lien's students have formed groups right where they live to facilitate their daily practice and health improvement.
Currently, she is directly teaching 40 students divided into 2 classes, practicing regularly at 5-6am and 7-8pm every day. In Ms. Lien's classes, members of all ages can participate, most of them are mothers and women between the ages of 55-68 who are still enthusiastically practicing, improving many health problems, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular...
Ms. Tran Thi Lien founded and effectively maintained the Lien Tran shuffle dance club - Photo: LT
Since its establishment, Lien Tran shuffle dance club has regularly participated in modern dance competitions organized by all levels; performed at local events and organized exchanges and meetings between clubs across the country.
Notably, in October 2024, the Club organized a Shuffle Dance Festival at Vinh Linh District Gymnasium and Sports Training Center to exchange and meet people with the same passion. The exchange left many good impressions with more than 200 members from 16 units nationwide attending.
Thereby contributing to promoting the movement of physical exercise and sports, improving health in the community. Continuing the emotional flow when she and Team Quang Tri just won the third prize in the shuffle dance category at the 2024 National Shuffle Dance and Dance Competition, Ms. Lien said that this is considered the first "sweet fruit", a common achievement for the efforts and attempts of all members of the team.
She shared: “When I heard about this tournament, I encouraged the members of the club to participate. But because the tournament took place in Hai Phong, some of the sisters could not arrange their work. Seeing that the number was not enough, I proactively contacted and called on some more sisters from other clubs in the province to practice and compete together. When we had enough 20 participants according to the regulations of the organizing committee, we took the name “Team Quang Tri” and started planning practice, finding dances...”.
To compete and shine at the 2024 National Shuffle Dance and Dance Competition, the whole team has undergone a serious and determined training process. Because the members come from many different localities such as Dong Ha City, Cam Lo, Vinh Linh, Huong Hoa, it is very difficult to focus on practicing. To overcome that, Ms. Lien proactively assigned each person to practice at home and then arranged to meet to put it together smoothly.
As a “locomotive”, she always encouraged, cared for, and guided the team members from performance techniques to travel and accommodation during the competition days in Hai Phong. With their strength and solidarity, the team representing Quang Tri province had a convincing and impressive performance.
The third prize at the competition is one of the first high achievements of the shuffle dance clubs and groups of Quang Tri province at a national tournament. “The initial achievements and recognition from all levels are the motivation for me and the members of the club as well as many women who are passionate about shuffle dance to continue to strive to spread the practice movement more widely, improving the quality of dances.
In the future, I will develop an advanced curriculum for the members with the best techniques in the club; continue to improve performance skills and learn more about connecting dance with music so that I can confidently take students to exchange and compete in bigger competitions," said Ms. Lien.
Hoai Diem Chi
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/toa-sang-cung-niem-dam-me-shuffle-dance-190882.htm
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