Whether on TV, music videos or live in concert, young singers areincreasingly turning to groups of dancers to liven up performances.
TVproducers have launched game shows aimed at seeking new talents indance, such as Thu Thach Cung Buoc Nhay and Buoc Nhay Hoan Vu, bothVietnamese versions of popular American shows So You Think You Can Danceand Dancing with The Stars.
Although Ho Chi Minh City now has 15 professional dance troupes, their numbers often cannot meet demand.
Manyconcert and event organisers have had to turn to amateurs, usuallypeople aged 16 to 23, from dance clubs, cultural clubs or aerobicsclasses.
But music fans and the industry's elite alike are concerned about dancers accompanying singers.
"Amateurdancers only need a few hours practice for a show," said Lam Vinh Hai,winner of the Thu Thach Cung Buoc Nhay in 2012 and leader of M&TDance group.
"They wear costumes that are not aesthetically appealing, even see-through dresses," he said.
Another veteran dancer complained about the inappropriate costumes.
"Dancerswore costumes form Tay Nguyen ethnic minorities while singers performeda farmers' folk song from the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta in many concerts Isaw in recent years," said dancer and choreographer Dang Hung, directorof the Bong Sen Traditional Music and Dance Troupe.
"Dances not suited to songs are becoming a popular phenomenon," he said.
To satisfy audiences, dancers accompanying singers usually imitate or base performances on what is trendy in other countries.
According to Hung, the problem might rest with choreographers.
"Without professional choreographic training, these dancers often appear lacking in style and synchronization."
"Dancesaccompanying singers make performances livelier, but manychoreographers have invested neither the time nor the effort in trainingdancers," he said. "And that hurts the performances."
Mostconcert choreographers are former dancers and have no training. They'veturned to choreographing dance groups now that demands for dancing haveincreased. Many dance groups now have no choreographer.
Accordingto People's Artist and choreographer Viet Cuong of the HCM CityTelevision, excessive use of accompanying dances may hurt the music inthe end.
"Singers will become less confident when they performwithout the dancers. They will invest in dance with colourful costumesto dazzle audiences instead of improving their voice, which is the workthat they must pay attention."
Among the city's most populargroups are the breakdancing and hip-hop Hoang Thong Troupe, the pop rockABC Troupe and Phuong Viet, the folk-dancing Kim Quy Troupe, and thedance group for children Ngoi Sao Nho. They often dance at theatres,restaurants and big concerts.
Although troupe members aretalented and skilled, pure dance performances are rarely staged in thecity, so most dancers earn a living by accompanying singers.-VNA