Urban Dance Group to feature US, Vietnamese dancers

HCM City (VNA) - Young dancers of the HCM City-based Urban Dance Group (UDG) troupe will perform in a show “Between Us” featuring contemporary dance.

The show will be held on December 1 and 2 at the Factory Contemporary Arts Centre.

The production was created by Vietnamese-Canadian dancer and choreographer John Huy Tran, the leader of the Urban Dance Group, and his colleague, American dancer and choreographer Sabra Johnson, winner of the season 3 reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance on Fox TV.

John invited Johnson to train UDG dancers for the show.

The 90-minute event, about youth, love and urban life, will feature UDG talents such as Nguyen Ngoc Tan, Pham Ngoc Anh, Le Huu Phuoc, Dao Phi Hai and Nguyen Manh Quyen, who won top prizes at national and international dance contests.

The troupe’s leader John will also perform with the dancers.

The 32-year-old artist, who began working in Vietnam in 2012, said he came to the country to play a role in contributing to the development of contemporary dance here.

John was a member of the jury of Thu Thach Cung Buoc Nhay (Facing to Dance) in 2013, a Vietnamese version of the American show So You Think You Can Dance.

“I love working with young Vietnamese dancers, who love discovering themselves through dance,” said John in an interview with local media. “I believe they will reach new heights of dance with their ambition and energy.”

John has performed as a key dancer in many shows and TV programmes, and has also worked as a lecturer for dance schools and troupes.

“We hope to share our love for dance to young audiences through our show,” said John, who has created dance works that combine traditional and modern styles.-VNA