Hoàng Gia Bảo (left) and his twin sister Hoàng Gia Linh have achieved remarkable success, earning more than 1,000 medals and 200 championship trophies in dancesport competitions at home and abroad. — Photo courtesy of Huyền.

By Thanh Nga

With their synchronised steps and electrifying performances, 18-year-old dancesport twins Hoàng Gia Bảo and Hoàng Gia Linh have captured the hearts of audiences both at home and abroad. But behind their mesmerizing routines lies a story of unwavering family support.

Bảo and his twin sister Linh have achieved remarkable success over the past 12 years, earning more than 1,000 medals and 200 championship trophies in dancesport competitions both in and outside the country. They reached the top four in the Việt Nam's Got Talent contest in 2015 and secured victory in the King's Cup in Thailand in 2018 and 2019.

In October 2023, they emerged as champions in the National Dancesports Championship, leading to well-deserved national master titles in December.

"To achieve these results, we had to dedicate years of hard work. However, we consider this as a continuous journey rather than a final destination. Our ultimate goal is to make an impact on the global stage," Linh said.

Hoàng Gia Bảo and Hoàng Gia Linh (No 1) celebrate winning the National Dancesports Championship last October. — Photo courtesy of Huyền.

Bảo is currently studying at the Marie Curie High School, while Linh is enrolled at the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities, affiliated with Hà Nội National University. The twins were introduced to dancesport by their mother when they were just four years old.

At that time, Bảo battled with spasmodic bronchitis, often feeling fatigued, while Linh was engrossed in television and her phone. To improve their health, their mother, Lê Thị Thanh Huyền, introduced them to singing, martial arts and dancing.

During their dancesport training, an instructor recognised their potential and privately approached their mother, suggesting that the twins pursue professional dancesport.

"The teacher praised my children for their talent and musicality. She believed that if they formed a dancing pair, they would have great potential. Since they were interested as well, our family decided to let them try, although we didn't have high expectations," Huyền said.

When Bảo and Linh were five years old, their performances on stage garnered admiration from audiences, fuelling their excitement and their family's enthusiasm for the sport. After six months of rigorous training, they competed in the national youth championship in Quảng Ninh Province, winning a gold and a bronze medal. This achievement solidified their determination to continue dancing.

Hoàng Gia Linh (left) and her twin brother Hoàng Gia Bảo in an event in China’s Hong Kong. — Photo courtesy of Huyền.

Since then, the twins have supported each other throughout their training process, quickly becoming a prodigious pair and achieving numerous successes.

"As we practised more, our abilities improved, and our health also got better, so we decided to pursue dancesport more seriously," Bảo said.

For Linh, seeing her brother's health improve served as motivation for her to pursue dancesport professionally.

Both Bảo and Linh dedicate themselves to daily dance practice while also attending school. They seize every opportunity to do homework and perform to gain experience and participate in competitions. During their early teenage years, they participated in dozens of tournaments each year. Despite occasional absences from school, their teachers supported them by staying late to help consolidate their knowledge.

The twins mainly participate in national championships annually, alongside one or two major international tournaments. Their training frequency remains high.

"Studying at a specialised school means having more workload. There are times when I stay up until morning to complete assignments, and the next day I still go to dance practice as usual," Linh said. "I'm used to this intensity, so I can still manage it."

After more than 12 years of training and competing, Bảo acknowledged that dislocations, sprains, and minor injuries from limbs hitting the floor are inevitable in dancesport. However, both twins consider themselves fortunate to have each other.

Hoàng Gia Bảo and Hoàng Gia Linh compete at the HCM City Open Sportsdance Tournament last year. — Photo courtesy of Huyền.

Being twins, they understand each other exceptionally well, which provides an advantage in competition.

"Just a small signal from one person is enough for the other to understand what to do next. Perhaps this is why our performances have received high praise from the judges," Bảo said.

Nguyễn Chí Anh, a dancesport grandmaster who has been coaching Bảo and Linh since 2020, considers the twins to be extraordinarily talented, excelling in both technique and artistry.

"They possess genuine passion, the ability to learn rapidly, and willingly put in the practice. They embody all the qualities required of a top-notch dance pair," Anh said.

Despite their busy practice schedules, both Bảo and Linh have excelled academically, earning the title of excellent students at school for many years. Photo courtesy of Huyền

Family support

The unwavering support of their family has been instrumental in the journey of the twins in dancesport. In both domestic and international competitions, their mother accompanies them, ensuring that they have everything they need to perform at their best.

Despite not having any artistic or sports-related backgrounds in the family, Huyền recognised the potential of dancing to improve her children's health and enrich their lives. Little did she know that it would become their passion.

Huyền takes care of various aspects, such as their clothes, hair, meals, and sleep, ensuring that they can focus solely on their performances. With their mother's unwavering support, the twins can approach competitions without any worries.

Reflecting on their journey, Huyền expresses happiness every time her children participate in a competition, while acknowledging the numerous hardships they have faced over the past 12 years.

Despite their busy practice schedules, both Bảo and Linh have excelled academically, earning the title of excellent students at school for many years. Linh plans to study at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities while continuing to nurture her passion for dancing, whereas Bảo envisions a long-term future in dancesport and to be an international coach or judge. VNS