Dong Ho' ballet will feature soloists including Thu Hang and Duc Hieu. (Photo courtesy of VNOB)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – The Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) willpremiere the ballet Dong Ho at the Hanoi Opera House on March 22 and 23.
The ballet is choreographed by Nguyen Ngoc Anh based on Dong Ho folk paintings.It will feature soloists Phan Luong, Thu Hang, Nhu Quynh, and Viet An.
Dong Ho paintings with traditional subjects vividly reflect the ancientagricultural society, along with the life and practices of rural Vietnamesepeople.
The Dong Ho ballet will combine the folk-themed paintings with the melodioussound of the concerto Four Seasons of Vivaldi rearranged by Max Richter.
"The ballet is one of the main repertoires this year at VNOB," saidthe theatre's director and the ballet's art director Phan Manh Duc.
"It will vitalise Dong Ho paintings through the performing of balletdancers on their pointe shoes. We invited London-based choreographer Ngoc Anhfor this project aiming at making a unique ballet to combine Vietnamese folkand western classical art genres."
Dong Ho gives choreographer Anh a chance to express his feelings about the artand culture of Dong Ho folk paintings. He does not focus on storytelling but hewants to lead the audience toward sophistication that is conveyed in a moreabstract and sensory way.
Through the dance, the audience will see a close connection based on thehumanistic values of Vietnamese people that the choreographer wants to convey.
Anh has collaborated and worked with Les Ballets Persians, Phoenix DanceTheatre, and Union Dance Company. He currently works at the Hong Kong Academyof Performing Arts.
His works have been highly appreciated and won awards such as the New BritishChoreography Bonnie Bird Award, the Spotlight Award at the UK Critics' CircleDance Awards and the Outstanding Choreography Award at Hong Kong Dance Awards.
Recognised as a gifted choreographer, Anh was invited to choreograph forTheatre Regensburg in Germany and Inversedance Company in Hungary. His workMoment was repeatedly performed for many seasons by the VNOB./.
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Dong Ho' ballet will feature soloists including Thu Hang and Duc Hieu. (Photo courtesy of VNOB) 
