The performance earned the duo a bronze medal at the World Showdance Latin Championship, organized by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) in the US. Showdance Latin is a performance category within Latin dancesport, where couples not only compete in Latin dances (Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive) but also create a narrative through their choreography, incorporating elements of dance, expression, costumes, and staging.

Khanh Thi, Phan Hien and Thu Huong’s coach, said she and the two athletes dedicated significant time to developing the performance. The emotional resonance of the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day inspired her to create a wartime love story. To enhance the performance, the team blended international music with a Vietnamese song, "Cho Em Gan Anh Them Chut Nua" ("Let Me Be Closer to You").

Within the 3-minute, 30-second performance, the two dancers showcased three dances: Samba, Paso Doble, and Rumba, incorporating numerous lifts. According to Phan Hien, each dance lasted at least 40 seconds. This required him and Thu Huong to meticulously plan every second, ensuring their facial expressions and movements precisely conveyed the romance of the love story and a sense of national pride.

Phan Hien and his dance partner Thu Huong in their wartime romance-themed performance. Photo: Provided by the subject

The dance partners have been training with Khanh Thi and coach Valeri Ivanov for the past year. They also underwent training sessions with French coach Frederic Mosa. As showdance is not their forte, Phan Hien and Thu Huong faced pressure and endured several injuries. A week before the competition, they flew to France to train with Frederic Mosa before traveling to the US for the championship.

"Our efforts have finally paid off. I'm proud to achieve this new milestone, contributing another medal to our country's dancesport achievements," Phan Hien said.

Previously, Phan Hien and Thu Huong won medals for Vietnam in the five-dance Latin category, the Paso Doble, and the Jive at the 31st SEA Games. Last year, they were the first Vietnamese dancesport athletes to rank 41st in the world, thanks to their top 10 finish at the 2024 World Open Latin competition. In July of this year, they won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian dancesport category at the International DanceSport Festival in Vietnam.

Phan Hien, 32, is married to dancesport artist Khanh Thi, 43. In 2009, they won a gold medal at the Asian Dancesport Championship, making Phan Hien a champion at just 16. After retiring, Khanh Thi became Phan Hien's coach. Besides competing, they appear together in various game shows and events, and co-own an art training center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thu Huong, 35, graduated with honors from the Vietnam Academy of Dance and has been a national champion since 2007. She is currently a single mother of one son.

Hoang Dung