Stepping into the world of dancesport at an age past their youth, Khanh Hoa’s dancers Nguyen Vu Thanh Duy and Nguyen Thi Xuan Hoa knew that they had to twice or three times as hard as younger dancers. However, their mutual dedication has helped the duo overcome numerous hardships, secure achievements and keep their passion for dancesport alive.
Love for dancesport
| Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa performing at the 2026 National Dancesport Club Cup |
Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa started learning dancesport at around age 30. They attended a basic dancesport class taught by coaches Tran Minh Duc and Vo Pham Hoang Quyen in Nha Trang ward in 2016. After two years of mastering the basic dance steps, they decided to pursue a professional career. Under the guidance of the coaches, the dance partners practiced tirelessly in both elegant Standard and Latin disciplines.
| Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa performing at the 2026 National Dancesport Club Cup |
It is commonly said that professional dancesport is only for those with natural talent who started training from a very early age. But for Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa, dancesport has transformed their lives, helping them be healthier, more disciplined and full of positive energy. In 2020, Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa made their national debut at the national dancesport championship and the national dancesport cup. They immediately caught the attention of judges with their technical chemistry and dancing skills in both the Standard and Latin disciplines. In subsequent years, they continued to secure gold, silver, and bronze medals for middle-aged groups. Despite the hard training, they are always happy on the practice floor. For the Khanh Hoa duo, the ultimate prize isn’t just the podium, but the message they send: passion has no age limit.
In 2020, the duo became assistant coaches, working alongside other trainers to mentor and build confidence among newcomers. In 2022, they launched their own dancesport club, which has since trained a new generation of passionate dancers.
Spreading the fire of passion
However, elite sports are rarely a smooth journey. In 2022, after competing in the national dancesport championship and the national dancesport cup, Hoa collapsed on the dance floor with a severe knee injury, which threatened to end her career. She had to stop her vibrant rhythms of her daily routine and undergo grueling physical therapy. “During my darkest moments, Duy, my husband and dance partner, along with my coaches and teammates, stayed by my side, encouraged and supported me throughout two years of painful rehabilitation. They gave me the strength to overcome that time as well as the faith to return to the floor,” Hoa recalled.
Returning to the floor in 2025, Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa took home 1 gold and 2 silver medals in Latin, alongside 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal in Standard at the national dancesport cup in Vung Tau. Most recently, at the national dancesport club cup in Dien Bien province last April, they solidified their standing in the middle-aged divisions with 1 gold and 4 silver medals.
As said by dancesport Coach Tran Minh Duc, Thanh Duy and Xuan Hoa’s national achievements have contributed to promoting the middle-aged dancesport movement in the province, sparking the recent establishment of many new clubs. Their story is helping to spread the love for sports and send a message about the significance of grit and determination to pursue one’s passion.
CONG DINH
Translated by H.N
