Vietnamese artists stage a dance performance for the ethnic minorities living in the northern mountain area. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

THUA THIEN – HUE — Graceful traditional dance, entertaining music and clever gestures by Chinese, South Korean and Vietnamese dancers made a grand opening at the first International Dance Festival in Hue on Monday evening.

Nguyen Dang Chuong, director of the Performing Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said it is a festival within a festival, emphasising that the dance festival is the key event in the biennial Hue Festival this year.

Sixteen Vietnamese and eight dance troupes participated from various countries and territories, including Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

Dancers from the Philippines also featured on the line-up of artists. A competition for artistic merit will be held, and a dance performance to entertain the audience will be conducted.

Korean artists perform a unique fan dance, attracting the greatest applause from the audience. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

"The festival is being held to introduce the unique identity of dance arts from other countries to Vietnamese audiences and artists, giving them a chance to learn from their peers," Chuong told Viet Nam News.

"But we have also emphasised the preservation of the Vietnamese dance identity," he stated.

During the four-day festival, dance troupes will perform 37 dance episodes that will be judged on artistic merit.

Vuong Duy Bien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced at the opening ceremony that the theme of the festival will be art and cultural exchange, which is meant to highlight the solidarity gained in the ongoing Hue Festival from April 12 to 20, with participants from 65 artistic dance troupes worldwide.

He also wished to promote the nation and people of Viet Nam to international friends through the dance festival.

The dance troupes will also perform in remote areas to entertain rural audiences in the following days. — VNS