 The Organizing Committee of the 2024 national competition awards 36 prizes and certificates to the athletes. (Photo: Tran Thu Huong) |
The blind dancers showcased their ability across five Standard and five Latin styles. When performing in pairs, they maintain a light, constant touch with their partners, allowing them to stay in sync and move harmoniously. While their routines may not include dramatic leaps or high-flying spins, their steps, as well as the movements of their heads, hands, and hips, were remarkably precise and graceful.
Dancing involves multiple sensory clues and adaptive strategies for people with visual impairments. The rhythm and tempo of the music are natural cues for movement, while tactile feedback from partners or instructors helps with positioning and spatial awareness. Clear verbal instructions, physical touch to demonstrate steps, and textured floor markings create a supportive environment for learning and performing.
 Contestants Duong Hien and Tuan Ha (Photo: Cam Thi) |
“Dancesport is a challenge even for sighted people. Because we’re blind, it’s much more difficult. When I dance solo, I can be sure of my skills and movements. When I dance with a partner, we have to collaborate and practice to understand each other. For someone with vision loss, dancing gracefully is not about seeing, it’s about feeling. It’s about attuning oneself to the music, interpreting its energy, and using one’s body to express emotion,” said athlete Duong Hien.
“I practice every day to get continuous improvement. Because I can’t see, I listen carefully to the teacher’s instructions and my partner’s feedback. Practicing enhances our sense of touch. I used to be an introverted person. But since I started doing dancesport, I feel more confident and open to talking and working with other people,” said athlete Tuan Ha.
Theathletes were guided by sighted volunteers to their spots on the ballroom and back to their queue, as some are blind, others have low vision, and some can only distinguish between light and dark. Despite being unable to see their surroundings, they all smile brightly and move confidently to the rhythm of the music.
 (Photo: SOLAR Dance Club) |
21-year old An Nhu lost her vision after an accident when she was little. Nhu says she took up dancesport in 2020, becoming one of the first blind persons in Vietnam to get involved in the sport.
“At first, I didn’t think it would be possible for a person with vision loss to take part, nor did I expect that there would be a teacher willing to teach me. My teacher, To Van Hoa, has a useful instruction method. He allowed me to feel his arm and leg movements to visualize the actions. Some of my classmates who were more experienced demonstrated the moves for me, which helped a lot,” Nhu said.
“There were moments I found extremely difficult. But I realized that overcoming challenges depends on how much effort you put in. It’s not about avoiding difficulties but about working through them step by step.”
An Nhu said studying art and playing a musical instrument give her an advantage. For example, musical ability has helped her understand the concept of freeing her body. Nhu wants to show that succeeding not about one’s abilities or disabilities, but about one’s perseverance. With determination anyone can achieve their goals, regardless of what challenges or disabilities they may face. That’s her message.
 (Photo: SOLAR Dance Club) |
An Nhu’s dance partner, Dinh Cong Thinh, is a volunteer teacher of English at the Hanoi-based Nguyen Dinh Chieu School for Visually Impaired Students. Thinh used to attend regular schools. But after completing grade 12, he began experiencing serious health complications and gradually lost his eyesight. In 2022, he joined the SOLAR Dance Club class organized by the Blind Association of Ha Dong district in Hanoi with coach To Van Hoa.
“At first I felt very hesitant because of my physique, as I was a bit overweight and I was also adjusting to life with visual impairment. Learning a new subject made me feel unsure of myself, not knowing whether my movements or actions were correct. Thankfully, coach Hoa is a very experienced teacher. By the time I joined, he had already been training visually impaired athletes for four years. His expertise was invaluable. He taught us many techniques we wouldn’t have known otherwise,” Thinh shared his story.
The SOLAR Dance Club for visually impaired people was established in 2019 to give them an opportunity to integrate into the community, under the sponsorship of REACH – a center for career counseling and support for disadvantaged youth. Over the past 5 years, it has spread a passion for dancing to visually-impaired people in several provinces with the help of the local associations for blind people. Dancesport improves their physical and mental health, communication skills, and spatial awareness.
 Dancesport athlete and coach To Van Hoa at the 2024 national competition. (Photo: SOLAR Dance Club) |
“Vietnam is taking a lead in dancesport training for visually-impaired people. The world has Para dancesport, wheelchair dancesport for people with physical disabilities, but nothing for visually-impaired people. Every previous dancesport competition held by the SOLAR Dance Club has been resoundingly successful,” dancesport athlete and coach To Van Hoa said.
The national competition in 2024 followed successful dancesport competitions in Hanoi in 2021 and 2022 and the Cup of Visually-impaired People's Dancesport Clubs in 2023.
Nguyen Doan Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, said the competition aims to boost the sports movement in general and dancesport for the blind in particular, create a stimulating atmosphere, and enhance the solidarity and social integration of visually-impaired people.
“By improving their physical and mental health, they can learn and work more effectively, and increase their dynamism and confidence in the community. The competition is a place for coaches and athletes to exchange their knowledge, skills, and experience and promote a healthy lifestyle for visually impaired people nationwide,” said Tuyen.
 Athletes Mai Quoc Hung and Nguyen Thi Thu Diem take the oath at the opening ceremony, committing, on behalf of all the other competitors, to respect the rules and take part the competitions in a spirit of fair play. (Photo: Cam Thi) |
As the 2024 national competition aims to select athletes for the upcoming Para Games and Paralympics, Vietnamese visually-impaired dancers will be known globally. And who knows the oath that they took at the opening ceremony of the national competition will be repeated when Vietnam hosts such an international event someday.