VietNamNet Bridge – 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 this Saturday.

Light on her feet: Ngo Hong Quang (left) and Vu Ngoc Khai perform at a press preview at IDECAF. — VNS Photo Sunny Rose

Non (conical hat) will feature contemporary dance and traditional Vietnamese music.

In May 2014 Vu Ngoc Khai and Ngo Hong Quang first met in HCM City and discovered that they both trained in the Netherlands.

They then started to work on Non in January this year in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Their artistic inspiration comes from Vietnamese elements like non (conical hat) and banh chung and day (square and round sticky rice cakes), the country's soil and water and traditional musical instruments.

Khai is a dancer and choreographer who has studied and worked in Viet Nam and Europe.

In 2006, he got a scholarship from the Dutch consulate to study at the Rotterdam Dance Academy. Since then he has worked for a number of dance companies and theatres in Viet Nam, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Khai says, "Dance gives me breath, dance gives me frame, dance gives me sound, light, space, sense and a real true feeling...''

Over the years Quang and his magical dan nhi (Vietnamese two-chord fiddle) have impressed audiences not only in Viet Nam but also in Thailand, South Korea and European countries.

He learnt various types of traditional instruments at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music and in mountainous areas around the country.

Recently he studied contemporary composition at the Den Haag Royal Conservatory of music in the Netherlands.

He can now sing and play a clutch of traditional instruments like the dan bau, dan tinh, dan moi, dan kn'y, and chieng day.

The show is being organised by the French Institute of HCM City at IDECAF. Tickets cost VND200,000, and 150,000 for students.

VNS