The Vietnamese Lasallian Youth Troupe celebrated the 35th anniversary of its founding with a two-hour theatrical production before a capacity crowd of 2500 at the Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose, CA.
Br. Nick Gonzalez and Bishop Oscar Cantu.
Established in 1990 by Brother An Phong Tran, FSC, of the San Francisco New Orleans District’s La Salle Vietnam House in San Jose, CA, the Vietnamese Lasallian Youth Troupe (VLYT) is a performing arts organization dedicated to preserving and sharing with the world the Vietnamese Catholic Heritage through drum and dance.
The two-hour extravaganza featured numerous dance and drum productions, highlighted by pieces that expressed the performers’ gratitude for the grandparents, parents, and religious who have passed down the Vietnamese culture and Catholic values to younger generations of Vietnamese Americans.
SFNO Brother Visitor Nick Gonzalez, FSC, and Brothers Auxiliary Visitor Christopher Brady, FSC, were honored guests, as were members of the Lasallian Sisters community and Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San Jose. Brothers Nick and Christopher thanked and presented gifts of appreciation to the major sponsors of the event. They celebrated loyalty, family, and faith.
Brother Fortunat Phong produced the evening’s performance, as well as writing its script. He noted that the cast of 96 dancers, actors, drummers and singers rehearsed on Sundays for a year to prepare the production. An additional 40 volunteers served as stage crew, ushers, promoters, and house crew.
The cast singing “God Bless America.”
The Vietnamese Lasallian Youth Troupe has performed both nationally and internationally, garnering praise and recognition for its cultural and liturgical dance as well as for Vietnamese percussion. The Troupe recently announced that it will travel to Missouri and Washington, DC for performances during the summer of 2025.
Story contributed by Brother Nick Gonzalez, FSC
Photos courtesy Brother An Phong Tran, FSC
