Cultural expression: Through its tour of the US next year, HCM City dance group Arabesque hopes to bridge the gap between traditional and global contemporary dance. — Photo Courtesy Arabesque

HCM CITY (VNS)— Two Vietnamese dance and music troupes will make a performance tour of the US as part of a cultural exchange programme.

HCM City dance group Arabesque and Ha Noi-based Tri Minh's Quartet, both contemporary art groups, have been chosen by experts from the programme called Centre Stage, initiated by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The experts watched 12 nominations, including famous music bands Mat Troi Do (Red Sun) and White Noize and classic guitar duo Nguyen Thanh Huy and Huynh Ba Tho.

Arabesque and Tri Minh's Quartet will tour from June through December next year, performing and interacting with American artists and audiences.

Arabesque comprises seven dancers led by artistic director Nguyen Tan Loc, a graduate of the Tokyo Fujisato Ballet Company.

Its main shows will include The Mist, a contemporary dance performance based on the culture and lifestyle of rural Vietnamese.

Through its performances, Arabesque hopes to bridge the gap between traditional and a global contemporary dance.

Tri Minh's Quartet use mostly electronic and acoustic instruments, and among its main performances will be Sounds From Hanoi, one of its most popular, featuring both Vietnamese traditional forms and jazz.

The five-member group is headed by Tri Minh, who studied piano and composition at the Ha Noi Music Conservatory.

"For me, playing with traditional instruments is a journey to understand my roots more," Minh said, adding that when he understood his traditional culture, he understood more about himself and how he could develop in the future.

During their tours, the groups will also participate in workshops, discussions, people-to-people exchanges, and community gatherings.

Centre Stage is aimed at helping build mutual understanding via cultural expression and connecting people around the world.

It uses the performing arts to support cultural understanding between American and international communities, especially artists, experience the US first hand, and cultivate lasting relationships. — VNS