Circus artists Thanh Tuấn (first left) and Thu Hương (second right) pose with People’s Artist Tống Toàn Thắng, Director of the Việt Nam Circus Federation, at the awards ceremony. — Photo courtesy of the artists

HÀ NỘI — Circus artists Thanh Tuấn and Thu Hương have won a gold medal at the first International Circus Festival in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, overcoming strong entries from countries with long-standing big top traditions.

The first International Circus Festival, themed Circus World – Where Hearts Unite, took place from September 17 to 20, in the capital city.

The festival brought together artists from 14 countries and territories, such as Russia, China, Mongolia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Việt Nam and host country Tajikistan.

Việt Nam was represented by Meritorious Artists Thanh Tuấn and Thu Hương with their act Duo Love, with technical support from artist Thanh Hòa. Artist Tống Toàn Thắng, Director of the Việt Nam Circus Federation (VCF), directed the act and led the Vietnamese delegation.

Duo Love has been performed at numerous international festivals and competitions, with the act continuously refined in terms of technique and artistic expression.

In 2025, the pair won a gold medal at the Almaty International Circus Festival in Kazakhstan and a silver medal at the 'Without Borders' International Circus Competition in Russia.

In early 2026, Duo Love won another silver medal at an international circus festival in Girona, Spain. After each competition, the two artists continued to train, refine their techniques, hone their professional skills and explore new ways to refresh their performance style.

In Tajikistan, that process was taken to a new level. Rather than focusing solely on mastering demanding techniques, the pair placed greater emphasis on emotional expression, precision in their movements and the act’s overall stage presence.

As a result, Duo Love won a gold medal, sharing the top honour with an artist from the Russian Federation. Artists from China, Mongolia and Belarus won silver medals in different categories.

“At every festival, we always strive to deliver the most complete and refined performance possible, not only for the judges but also for the Tajikistan audience,” Hương said after the medal winning performance.

The Duo Love performance has won international acclaim. — VNA/VNS Photo

According to artist Tống Toàn Thắng, Director of the VCF, both the jury and audience watched the act attentively, barely taking their eyes off the artists’ every gesture and movement.

Some jury members said they no longer felt they were watching a conventional circus act, but rather a circus film rich in emotion and featuring a range of fresh nuances.

Thắng noted the feedback reflects a shift in the approach to staging and performance among Vietnamese circus artists.

Alongside solid technical foundations, artists are increasingly focusing on developing individual styles, strengthening their ability to tell stories through physical expression and making emotion an important element of each act.

After receiving the award, the act was invited to perform at an international circus festival in Russia in 2027, opening up an opportunity for Vietnamese circus artists to exchange with international peers, compete and showcase their creativity and performance skills to audiences around the world.

According to the Việt Nam Circus Federation, its artists have won five awards at international circus festivals since the beginning of 2026, including gold, silver, bronze and special prizes. — VNS