VietNamNet Bridge – An international dance festival will open tomorrow (Oct 1st) at the Youth Theatre with performances by artists from Israel, Viet Nam and Belgium.

Fusion of cultures: The festival is the fifth edition of Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance, which is held annually by the Network of European Cultural Institutes and Embassies in Ha Noi and the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) — Photo hanoigrapevine.com

The festival is the fifth edition of Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance, which has been held annually by the Network of European Cultural Institutes and Embassies in Ha Noi and the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB).

The artist duo Artour Astman and Ilana Bellahsen will open the festival with Artlana, a journey through a colourful fantasy world full of diverse localities waiting to be discovered.

The piece is the duo's first full-length performance.

Born in France and raised in Israel, Bellahsen has lived since 2008 in Tel Aviv, where she and Astman, who was born in Russia, have been successful as a duo.

The opening show will also feature a co-production between the VNOB and Belgian dance troupe Dame de Pic. The piece entitled Sur le Rivage (On the Shore) was choreographed this year by Karine Ponties.

On the Shore will be performed at 8pm on Saturday at HCM Dance College.

Choreographer Ponties made her debut at the first festival in 2011 with the piece Benedetto Pacifico. She had two performances entitled Havran and La Tour des Vents (The Tower of Wind) at the fourth festival last year.

The piece La Tour des Vents was the first co-operation between the VNOB and choreographer Ponties.

The climax of the festival will be a 70-minute dance entitled Zweiland (Twin Lands) at 8pm on Friday.

Twin Lands was choreographed by Sasha Waltz, and its world premiere was in 1997 in Berlin. Twin Lands tells a story of Germany's history in absurd everyday situations that alternate with character studies and fairytale images. German songs from different centuries are interpreted by the performers in a way that allows the music and dance to merge together.

"I have looked into our common history that was actually longer than the time of separation," Waltz said. "This portrait finds endless associations in other cultures, and many people can relate to these colourful and poetic - sometimes sad, but also comical - daily situations."

Two showings of Twin Lands will take place at Ha Noi Opera House at 8pm on Friday and Saturday.

Two dancers from Japan and Poland will have solo performances. The Japanese dancer known as KENTARO!! will perform his latest work entitled Kelex Goes Back to the Woods at 3pm on Saturday and at 8pm on Sunday at the Youth Theatre.

The work made its debut in France in July and in Japan this month.

Polish dancer Daniel Stryjecki will debut a piece highlighting the issues associated with narcissism, a personality disorder, and how it affects interactions with other people.

Stryjecki will give two workshops at Dancenter, 53 Nguyen Dang Giai, District 2, HCM City on Friday before his performance at 8pm to close the festival on Sunday at Youth Theatre.

Vietnamese choreographer and dancer Tran Ly Ly and her group were the rousing closing act of last year's festival. This time, the last dance is reserved for Ly's Yes Yes No No.

"I choreographed Yes Yes No No based on meditation," Ly said. "It deals with today's busy lifestyle, which changes our lives from the ground up and makes us impatient and inattentive." For further information, visit website www.hanoidancefestival.com.

VNS