To deliver eye-catching performances for the FV family during the annual Year End Party, our “homegrown” artists have shed sweat and shed tears. The months of practice before the show posed quite a challenge for them.

None of them are professional artists; their daily work revolves around patients, and many also take care of their families. Despite this, they cleverly found time to transform themselves into true artists. It can be said that when these “artists” faced time constraints, their potential was unleashed.

EACH PERFORMANCE PRESENTED ITS OWN SET OF DIFFICULTIES.

The lunch time in two months leading up to the show at FV are bustling times, while the nurses were practicing dance on the first floor of Building V, many other areas were abuzz with activity from different groups; the Guest Relations Department, midwives, and the “busy” groups of the organising team, choose afternoon and evening hours for practice. With the unique combination of members from various departments and years of experience, the Accounting Department champions often dedicate two weekends to all practice activities.

Front Office staff’s practice sessions at noon

Of course, the hospital isn’t designed for performing arts activities. So it is “very difficult to find a stable place to practice,” shared Ms Lan Phuong (Front Office Manager). Shortly after the organisers’ announcement, together, the front office staff planned to ensure a perfect performance, driven by the pressure of preforming for the first time at the year-end party.

However, behind the determination of the dance group lay the coordination of a performing group – currently multi-tasking at the Front Office – ensuring those who practice made the effort and those who remain take on extra responsibilities to ensure harmony, which is truly remarkable. “There were days when there was too much work; some even had to interpret in their full costumes”, shared Ms Tuyet Phuong (Interpreter Team Leader).

Practice sessions of Obstetrics staff often occur in various locations.

A bit different, Ms Thanh Cuc (Head nurse of the Outpatient Department), recalls that the difficulty for her group was that everyone wants to contribute to the performance. However, selection was necessary based on performance, choreography, stage, and, of course, the group’s main responsibilities. Yet, every nurse in the outpatient clinic managed to organise their work and attended dance practice or provided logistical support. Despite extra work and rigorous practice, they were determined to create their best appearance on stage.

The performance is meticulously managed from performance to logistical arrangements by outpatient nurses.

Meanwhile, aiming to bring a difference and as a gift to everyone, the recent year-end parties also witnessed a performance from… the organising team. More than half of the Fabulous group members are to drive the program and participants’ flow. However, December and January are busy months at FV with many other events. Considering the group’s involvement, it can be seen as a bold decision expressing their youthful enthusiasm.

Fabulous group comprising over half of the FV Year-End Party Organising Team members.

Having participated in year-end party performances for nearly a decade, Mr Ha Ngoc Dung (Patient Service Supervisor) believes that each year has its own flavour, while the professional atmosphere seems to be increasing day by day. Yet, whether professional or “amateur,” disagreements during practice and staging performances are common for most performing groups.

Limited practice time, frequent debates over choreography, selecting costumes to fit within reasonable costs – these are typical challenges for a “seasonal” dance group. “Usually, we focus on practice, and Ms Hiep handles all other issues,” said Mr Dung.

The “champion group” in a weekend practice session.

In her role as a “show host” and team member, Ms Doan Vu Hiep (Finance Manager) balances group issues while managing her busy hospital work. Especially in the last two years, amidst implementing the merge & acquisition with Thomson Medical Group, managing financial matters and planning the budget for the entire FV, Ms Hiep’s workload was relentless. “The day I finished setting up the stage, I had to rush back at noon to finish some pending work before returning to perform in the evening,” she said.

The desire to perform and indulge in hobbies with a selfless spirit motivates the group to overcome obstacles and find joy and closeness, despite coming from various departments. From the stage to everyday life, sharing, mutual support, and monthly meetings among all members, have fostered beautiful connections that can be more difficult to find through work alone.

Performing on stage is an effort for many to surpass their personal limits.

EVERY EFFORT IS DULY REWARDED.

In most of the performing groups’ stories, there were challenges regarding support costs, but they are gently handled. Not because they were insignificant, but because someone in the group took care of them, leading to nameless benefits, joy, laughter, sacrifices, and tears, among other things. These “everyday obstacles” fade away. Similar to what managers like Ms Thanh Cuc and Ms Lan Phuong shared – they found a close-knit team from the stage to daily work and recognised “new personalities” with confidence and love within themselves, embracing the ability to find creativity inside everyone.

For Tra Mi (Nurse of Surgical Ward), participating in a performance for the first time was nerve-wracking, but she was determined. “Not only did I feel proud of myself after the performance, but the practice also gave me perseverance, introduced me to many lovely colleagues, and created beautiful memories of my youth,” Mi shared.

Or the excitement felt by Ms Tuyet Phuong when confidently performing a dance on an outing with friends,… these experiences may not be intended to shine, but they certainly draw others closer. Confidence sometimes needs nurturing through challenges; the key is whether we live in an environment that fosters challenging opportunities and taught us how to embrace them.

Supporting performances from a selection of acts, forming teams, advising on song choices to bring harmony and diversity to the overall programme, representative of the Organising Team – Ms Thanh Truc (PR & Marketing Manager) mentioned that throughout the years of organising performances for internal teams, she witnessed her colleagues’ struggles during practice and the occasional conflicts. However, watching colleagues confidently perform on stage amidst applause and cheers filled her with admiration and pride. “Hopefully, this activity will continue to thrive, with more and more FV artists participating, making our creative playground more colourful,” Ms Truc shared.

The renowned German composer of the romantic era, Robert Schumann, once said that “nothing right can be accomplished in art without enthusiasm.”  In the collective sentiment from many performers and FV Family members, their colleagues’ appearances on stage are filled with enthusiasm and always create an indescribable feeling. It’s not merely about seeing each other as “stars”; more interestingly, in that moment, they realise that their “family members” are truly adorable with newfound confidence.