Vietnamese celebrities pair up with local choreographers to create beautiful performances on Sàn Đấu Vũ Đạo (Best Dance Artists), which airs on HTV7. Photo courtesy of the producer

Local television stations are working to bring more new entertainment shows to stay-at-home audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among these are dance shows which have not been popular on TV in recent years.

The HCM City Television (HTV) is presenting Sàn Đấu Vũ Đạo (Best Dance Artists) where 12 favourite Vietnamese celebrities pair up with 12 talented choreographers to create dances.

The show features vlogger Hậu Hoàng, singers MLee and Thiều Bảo Trang, and rappers TLinh and Hành Or. The choreographers include Lâm Vinh Hải, Toàn Trung, B.O.P, and Dương Anh Mỹ.

“I’m happy. It’s a long-waited return to the small screen,” choreographer and dancer Hải said.

The 32-year-old artist won the first season of Thử Thách Cùng Bước Nhảy, the Vietnamese version of the US TV dance show So You Think You Can Dance, in 2012.

He appeared on TV as a supporter of competitors in the next four seasons until the show ended in 2016.

“For the TV comeback, I am doing my best to send audiences and my fans nice performances,” said Hải, who pairs up with actress Katleen Phan Võ.

The duo has presented a strong routine to show their feminine energy on the first episode featuring freestyle dance, broadcast on HTV7 last Saturday.

The performance received praise from the judges, including Vietnamese-Canadian choreographer John Huy Trần, and pop stars Đông Nhi and Noo Phước Thịnh.

The 12-episode Sàn Đấu Vũ Đạo is being broadcast at 7:30pm on HTV7 every Saturday, and can be watched on YouTube at Studio79 channel.

Dance crew Saigon Kiddiez participates in Nhóm Nhảy Siêu Việt (Vietnam’s Best Dance Crew). The show is broadcast on VTV3. Photo courtesy of the producer

Meanwhile, the Việt Nam Television (VTV) has introduced Nhóm Nhảy Siêu Việt (Vietnam’s Best Dance Crew), which is adapted from the US show Best Dance Crew.

It highlights famous groups like Mania Family, Saigon Kiddiez, 218 Dance Crew, and M.U.G who follow jazz, contemporary, and hip hop.

A member of Saigon Kiddiez said: “We feel lucky to have a playground for street dance crews to introduce our lifestyle and culture to nationwide audiences.”

During the show, the dance crews present performances reflecting social issues and young people's life, receiving a warm welcome from audiences, especially young ones.

“The show helps TV audiences know about Vietnamese dance crews who have contributed to popularising dance with performances of positive energy,” choreographer Tuyết Minh, a member of the jury consisting of choreographer and director Việt Max and a guest judge, said.

Rising to fame after a dance contest in 2001, Minh established the Khám Phá (Discovery) Dance Company four years later.

The company staged famous Vietnamese and international works like Carmen, Quan Âm Thị Kính (Goddess of Mercy Thị Kính), Con Tạo Xoay (Spinning Top) in 2014, Tình Yêu Hà Nội (Love for Hà Nội) in 2015, and S-Tour in 2016.

In 2020, Minh worked with the Việt Nam Dancers’ Association and the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) to stage Ballet Kiều, a new ballet based on Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều), the 18th century literary masterpiece by the great poet Nguyễn Du, in HCM City and Hà Nội.

Nhóm Nhảy Siêu Việt is broadcast at 8pm on VTV3 every Saturday.  VNS