The sixth and final season of the community dance project, titled Mơ (Dream), will debut this summer in both Đà Lạt and Hà Nội, marking its most ambitious production to date. — Photo courtesy of the organising board

HÀ NỘI — After a decade of nurturing Vietnamese children and teenagers through the language of dance, the community ballet project Sắc màu tuổi thơ (Colours of Childhood) is coming to a poetic close. Its sixth and final season, titled Mơ (Dream), will debut this summer with performances in both Đà Lạt and Hà Nội, marking the project’s most ambitious production to date.

Nearly 100 young dancers aged five to 18 from Đà Lạt and Hà Nội will share the stage in a deeply emotional finale, where memories, imagination and inner journeys are expressed through contemporary, folk, ballet and hip-hop dance. Mơ is described by its creators as a “theatrical epic”, weaving together surreal fragments of youth and longing.

The ballet opens with the chapters Ảo giác (Hallucination) and Ảo ảnh (Illusion), inviting audiences into a dreamlike realm shaped by nostalgia and youthful desires. As the story unfolds, chapters such as Siêu thực (Surreal), Thức tỉnh (Awakening) and Mơ (Dream) lead the protagonist — symbolising the young soul — through a journey of self-discovery, confronting pressures, wounds and the eventual clarity that follows.

Each sequence is intricately choreographed and staged, using a careful blend of movement, light and music to convey profound emotional and humanistic themes. According to the organisers, every gesture, formation and transition in the show has been designed to reflect the subtle inner world of young people.

This year, the scale and ambition of the project reach new heights. For the first time in a decade, Colours of Childhood will be staged in two cities, with separate casts trained independently but unified in spirit and artistic direction. The Dalat Opera House will host the first show on July 19, introducing the Central Highlands audience to the project’s message and vision. Meanwhile, Hà Nội's Youth Theatre, which hosted the debut season ten years ago, will close the journey with two performances on August 2 and 3.

More than just a celebration of artistic achievement, Colours of Childhood Vol.6 – Mơ also upholds its social mission. In a heartfelt gesture, the organising team has launched a campaign called Cùng trẻ em có hoàn cảnh khó khăn chạm vào Mơ (Let disadvantaged children touch a dream), pledging to donate all proceeds from the first 200 tickets sold at each venue to support child patients in need. The campaign serves as a tribute to the community that has supported the project from the very beginning.

Launched in 2015 by choreographers Nguyễn Viết Thành and Chu Quỳnh Trang, Colours of Childhood was envisioned as a professional yet inclusive platform for children in Việt Nam to explore and express themselves through dance. Over six seasons, the project has not only pushed creative boundaries but has also inspired hundreds of young people — many of whom have continued on the path to professional dance and performing arts.

With Mơ, the final season of this ten-year journey, Colours of Childhood delivers a poignant message: when young dreams are nurtured through art and compassion, they have the power to touch hearts and create a timeless impact. — VNS