HÀ NỘI – A duet dance by Norwegian artists will be performed in Hà Nội on November 25 and HCM City on November 30.

Titled "Jakob", Vietnamese Norwegian choreographer Tony Tran will present the contemporary dance performance to Vietnamese audiences for the first time.

This is the work's first premiere in Tony Tran's home country and Asia, together with the launch of workshops on movement and theatre lighting led by Jakob's artists.

The tour welcomes the presence of choreographer/performer Tony Tran, dancer Knut Vikstrøm Precht and lighting designer Tobias Leira.

Duet dancer Jakob expresses intimacy between two men. Photos courtesy of organisers

The tour is partly supported by The Performing Arts Hub Norway, Arts Council Norway and co-organised by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hà Nội, MORUA, H2Q Art, Vincom Centre of Contemporary Arts (VCCA) in Hà Nội and Sân Khấu Nhỏ Drama Theatre in HCM City, within the framework of celebrations events marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Norway and Việt Nam (1971 - 2021).

'Jakob' Dance

The title 'Jakob' points to two sides: in the Norwegian context, the name represents something stable – the kind and adventurous person who is often a mother-in-law's dream.

Meanwhile, the biblical Jakob is the deceiver and liar. Tony Tran wants to see what happens between these two opposites when they meet. It is in the spaces between that intimacy is allowed to occur.

Through Jakob, Tran expresses his ambition to break the traditional mould of masculinity representation and normative expectations of gender roles.

On stage, the two dancers can be romantic and aggressive while not necessarily depicting a gay or a straight couple or any sexuality in between. In the same vein, the intimate masculinity on display is not necessarily about romantic relationships but speaks to all kinds of connections.

Tony Tran (born in 1988) is a Norwegian-Vietnamese choreographer and performer based out of Oslo, Norway, who graduated from the Oslo National Academy of Arts and the Danish National School of Performing Arts Copenhagen in 2012.

His choreographic research has consistently centred on masculine identities and their construction. His artistic works have toured in Europe, Asia and North America. Tony receives a work grant for younger and newly established artists from Arts Council Norway from 2021-23. In addition, he is on the committee for performance arts for The Audio and Visual Fund for two periods, 2020-22 and 2022-2024.

He is also an advisor for the Lyse Netter festival, responsible for the performance art programming, and an active member of the IETM - International network for contemporary performing arts.

Tony Tran (left) and Knut Vikstrøm Precht on stage.

Knut Vikstrøm Precht (1985) is a dancer and performer based in Berlin. Born, raised and educated in Sweden, he has worked and performed all over Europe and toured on four continents. After completing his studies at the University of Dance and Circus(DOCH/UniArts) in Stockholm in 2013, he has been involved in contexts of street performance, dance films, theatre productions and performance art alongside his main focus on contemporary dance performance.

He joined Ultima Vez – Wim Vandekeybus 2015 – 2018 for the rehearsal and tour of In Spite of Wishing and Wanting – Revival, and has co-created and performed works of numerous other directors and choreographers such as Linda Kapetanea & Jozef Frucek/RootLessRoot, Luke Murphy, Per Sundberg/Dansinitiativet and Carl Olof Berg. He has been teaching internationally since 2019, mainly with Lito Anastasopoulou and solo.

This allows him to explore further and share his sincere joy and interest in movement, interaction, expression and communication.

Tobias Leira is educated in lighting design at the Dramatiska Institutet in Stockholm, where he graduated in 2008. Since then, he has worked with lights for performing arts at several theatres in Norway. Since his education, he has worked with dance, theatre, concerts and opera in Norway, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe.

He has worked with directors Kjersti Horn, Ingrid Fiksdal, Kari Hoaas, Det Norske Theater, Riksteatret, Rogalanf Theater, Trøndelag Theater, National theatre and Tore Vagn Lid. 

Tobias has worked with MoS since 2014. In addition, he has worked on several projects, including Frøken Julie, Jeg var Fritz Moen, and Richard III og Renset.

The artists will perform at 8pm on November 25, at the Vincom Centre of Contemporary Arts (VCCA), B1-R3 Floor, Royal City in Hà Nội. 

The HCM City show will be at 8pm on November 30 at Sân Khấu Nhỏ Theatre, 5B Võ Văn Tần Street, Ward 6, District 3. The events are not for children under the age of 13.

Knut Vikström Precht will share a training seminar titled 'Dance and Gravity' between 7-10pm on November 23 at Kinergie Studio, Nguyễn Khuyến, Hà Nội. Participants must be over the age of 16.

Tobias Leira will lead a practical workshop on lighting and colour in theatre from 9am on November 24 at Theatre 21 Lane 12/2/5 Đặng Thai Mai, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội. Participants must be over 14.

Leira will conduct the same workshop in HCM City between 4-8pm on November 27 at Lặng Spot, No. 18 Road No 47, Thảo Điền, District 2. VNS