Different beats: Japanese choreographer and dancer Kaiji Moriyama will perform at the HCM City International Dance Festival next Wednesday. — Photo contemporaryperformance.com

HCM CITY  ()VNS) — Japanese choreographer and dancer Kaiji Moriyama will begin a 10-day visit to HCM City today as his nation's cultural exchange ambassador.

During his visit, he will perform at the HCM City International Dance Festival next Wednesday.

It was revealed at a press conference yesterday that Moriyama will choreograph, direct music, and dance the Hagoromo (The feather mantle), which is inspired from the most-performed Japanese Noh play of the same name.

Moriyama won great acclaim for his performance at the 2001 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he was described by Kelly Apter of The Scotsman as "one of the most talented dancers at this year's Fringe".

He was selected to represent Japan at the Little Asia Dance Project with his piece Lamazuella, and has also toured Australia, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul and Tokyo.

In January 2005, his latest production and US solo debut Katana (Sword) was praised by Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times as "a dance of amazing concentration by an amazing dancer".

His style has been compared with a sword that tears through space with "a smoothness and sensitivity that crosses generational boundaries".

In 2013, Kaiji was chosen by Japanese Government to become the country's culture ambassador for Asia.

City's first int'l dance fest

The very first International Dance Festival in HCM City, starting from today until November 22, will feature performances as well as workshops with the participation of choreographers and dancers from Italy, Japan and South Korea.

Three workshops will be organised under the auspices of the festival.

The first one on Awareness of the Body in Contemporary Dance will be held by Claudio Malangone of Italy today.

The second, dealing with contemporary dance movement and the creative process of choreography will be held by Moriyama tomorrow.

The third workshop on floor dance techniques will be led by Sungyong Kim of Korea on November 22.

The festival is organised by Arabesque and Saigon Concert, the company that manages the Opera House and events that it hosts.

Ticket reservations can be made via phone at 0903966796. — VNS