Indigenous Australian culture to be showcased in Viet Nam

Descendance, one of Australia's leading indigenous dance groups, will perform at the 2012 Hue Festival and major cities. VNS Photo

HA NOI – Descendance, one of Australian's leading indigenous dance groups, will showcase their contemporary interpretation of Australian indigenous culture for Vietnamese audiences at the 2012 Hue Festival.

The five-member group will perform at the festival's opening ceremony tomorrow and again during the festival. They will also perform at the Da Nang University of Technology on April 13 and at the HCM City Youth Cultural House on April 16.

Since forming in 1993, Descendance has toured over 40 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. They have also performed in theatres, movies, television programmes and festivals all over Australia. Descendance won the World Dance and Peace Prize at the UNESCO World Culture Open in South Korea in 2004, where they competed with entrants from 70 countries.

Allaster Cox, Australia's Ambassador to Viet Nam, said he was very proud that Australia would continue its involvement with the Hue Festival this year.

"I know that many Vietnamese people have heard about Australia's ancient indigenous culture, but are yet to experience it firsthand. That's one reason why the Australian Embassy in Ha Noi decided to support this tour," he said.

"Descendance's unique fusion of indigenous Australian and contemporary dance is an excellent example of Australian artists' innovative and dynamic interpretations of our cultural traditions."

Entry to all of Descendance's performances will be free of charge. – VNS

Kicker: Descendance, one of Australia's leading indigenous dance groups, will perform at the 2012 Hue Festival and major cities. VNS Photo