The festival is the fifth edition of Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance. (Source: hanoigrapevine.com)
An international dance festival will open on October 1 at the Youth Theatre with performances by artists from Israel, Vietnam and Belgium.
The festival is the fifth edition of Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance, which has been held annually by the Network of European Cultural Institutes and Embassies in Hanoi and the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB).
The artist duo Artour Astman and Ilana Bellahsen will open the festival with Artlana, a journey through a colourful fantasy world full of diverse localities waiting to be discovered.
The piece is the duo's first full-length performance.
Born in France and raised in Israel, Bellahsen has lived since 2008 in Tel Aviv, where she and Astman, who was born in Russia, have been successful as a duo.
The opening show will also feature a co-production between the VNOB and Belgian dance troupe Dame de Pic. The piece entitled Sur le Rivage (On the Shore) was choreographed this year by Karine Ponties.
On the Shore will be performed at 8pm on October 3 at HCM Dance College.
Choreographer Ponties made her debut at the first festival in 2011 with the piece Benedetto Pacifico. She had two performances entitled Havran and La Tour des Vents (The Tower of Wind) at the fourth festival last year.
The piece La Tour des Vents was the first co-operation between the VNOB and choreographer Ponties.
The climax of the festival will be a 70-minute dance entitled Zweiland (Twin Lands) at 8pm on October 2.
Twin Lands was choreographed by Sasha Waltz, and its world premiere was in 1997 in Berlin. Twin Lands tells a story of Germany's history in absurd everyday situations that alternate with character studies and fairytale images. German songs from different centuries are interpreted by the performers in a way that allows the music and dance to merge together.
"I have looked into our common history that was actually longer than the time of separation," Waltz said. "This portrait finds endless associations in other cultures, and many people can relate to these colourful and poetic - sometimes sad, but also comical - daily situations."
Two showings of Twin Lands will take place at Hanoi Opera House at 8pm on October 2-3.
Two dancers from Japan and Poland will have solo performances. The Japanese dancer known as KENTARO!! will perform his latest work entitled Kelex Goes Back to the Woods at 3pm on October 3 and at 8pm on October 4 at the Youth Theatre.
The work made its debut in France in July and in Japan this month.
Polish dancer Daniel Stryjecki will debut a piece highlighting the issues associated with narcissism, a personality disorder, and how it affects interactions with other people.
Stryjecki will give two workshops at Dancenter, 53 Nguyen Dang Giai, District 2, HCM City on October 2 before his performance at 8pm to close the festival on October 4 at Youth Theatre.
Vietnamese choreographer and dancer Tran Ly Ly and her group were the rousing closing act of last year's festival. This time, the last dance is reserved for Ly's Yes Yes No No.
"I choreographed Yes Yes No No based on meditation," Ly said. "It deals with today's busy lifestyle, which changes our lives from the ground up and makes us impatient and inattentive."-VNA
Two Vietnamese artists who trained in contemporary art in the Netherlands have combined forces to create a dance and music show that will premiere in HCM City on June 13.
Hungarian dance troupe 4 For Dance will perform in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi bringing a unique style of combining traditional folk dance with virtuoso rhythm and a lot of humour.
Vietnamese high school students will be introduced to Maori art and culture during the New Zealand Education and Culture Roadshow, which runs until September 25.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
The festival is the fifth edition of Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance. (Source: hanoigrapevine.com)
