'Đông Hồ' ballet will feature soloists including Thu Hằng and Đức Hiếu. Photo courtesy of VNOB

HÀ NỘI - Việt Nam National Opera & Ballet will premiere the ballet Đông Hồ at Hà Nội Opera House on March 22 and 23. 

The ballet is choreographed by Nguyễn Ngọc Anh based on Đông Hồ folk paintings. It will feature soloists Phan Lương, Thu Hằng, Như Quỳnh, and Việt An. 

Đông Hồ paintings with traditional subjects vividly reflect the ancient agricultural society, along with the life and practices of rural Vietnamese people.  

The Đông Hồ ballet will combine the folk-themed paintings with the melodious sound of the concerto Four Seasons of Vivaldi rearranged by Max Richter.

"The ballet is one of the main repertoires this year at VNOB," said the theatre's director and the ballet's art director Phan Mạnh Đức.

"It will vitalise Đông Hồ paintings through the performing of ballet dancers on their pointe shoes. We invited London-based choreographer Ngọc Anh for this project aiming at making a unique ballet to combine Vietnamese folk and western classical art genres."

Đông Hồ gives choreographer Anh a chance to express his feelings about the art and culture of Đông Hồ folk paintings. He does not focus on storytelling but he wants to lead the audience toward sophistication that is conveyed in a more abstract and sensory way. 

Through the dance, the audience will see a close connection based on the humanistic values of Vietnamese people that the choreographer wants to convey. 

Anh has collaborated and worked with Les Ballets Persians, Phoenix Dance Theatre, and Union Dance Company. He currently works at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

His works have been highly appreciated and won awards such as the New British Choreography Bonnie Bird Award, the Spotlight Award at the UK Critics' Circle Dance Awards and the Outstanding Choreography Award at Hong Kong Dance Awards.

Recognised as a gifted choreographer, Anh was invited to choreograph for Theatre Regensburg in Germany and Inversedance Company in Hungary. His work Moment was repeatedly performed for many seasons by the VNOB.

Đông Hồ ballet will begin at 8pm at Hà Nội Opera House. Please visit https://nhahatnhacvukichvietnam.com/en/ve-ban/ for ticket information. - VNS