Art classes connect young generations with Vietnamese culture
WVR - The Vietnam – Australia Cultural Exchange Organization (VACEO) is maintaining traditional dance and musical instrument classes in Sydney, helping Vietnamese-origin children access national art, enhance their Vietnamese language skills, and nurture a bond with their roots.
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Bringing traditional art to the young
In Bankstown, Sydney, classes organized by VACEO take place every Saturday afternoon, providing a space for Vietnamese-origin children to familiarize themselves with traditional musical instruments, learn traditional dances, and explore Vietnamese cultural values.
The curriculum is designed to combine art practice with cultural knowledge introduction. Through each lesson, students have the opportunity to learn about the origins of dances, musical characteristics, costumes, props, and cultural features of different regions. This approach makes traditional art more accessible to students born and raised in Australia.
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| Through music, traditional dance, and communication in their mother tongue, children have more opportunities to explore their origins, develop an understanding of national culture, and maintain a connection with their homeland. (Source: VACEO) |
The classes also create an environment for communication in Vietnamese outside the family. During practice, students interact with teachers and friends, thereby reinforcing their listening and speaking skills and gradually improving their reading and writing abilities in Vietnamese.
In addition to regular teaching activities, students also prepare for cultural performance programs. These occasions allow them to practice the knowledge they have learned while introducing Vietnamese music and traditional dance to the local audience.
The combination of learning and performing helps expand cultural experiences for children, creating more opportunities for the young Vietnamese generation to express their connection to their homeland's heritage and participate in exchange activities in Australia.
Sustaining activities, nurturing Vietnamese identity
To maintain the classes, VACEO receives support from Vietnamese families. Many parents take the time to transport their children, enabling them to participate regularly, despite the considerable distance from home to the learning venue.
However, the organization's activities face several challenges. The Vietnamese community in Sydney is dispersed, travel is time-consuming, students' Vietnamese proficiency varies, and attendance can fluctuate from session to session.
Teachers need to flexibly adjust the teaching content to suit the age and learning capacity of the students. Funding and venue are also issues that require attention.
Nevertheless, maintaining weekend classes demonstrates VACEO's efforts to create a cultural education environment for young Vietnamese in Australia.
Through music, traditional dance, and communication in their mother tongue, children have more opportunities to explore their origins, develop an understanding of national culture, and maintain a connection with their homeland.
VACEO's activities also contribute to bringing Vietnamese art closer to the multicultural society in Australia, thereby creating more space for exchange and introducing Vietnamese identity abroad.
