As a German-Vietnamese child, I initially rejected learning traditional Vietnamese dances at the start of my dance career because I wanted to dance like all the other children, out of shame and fear of being excluded. It wasn’t until the last three years that I understood the enrichment these cultural traditions and dance styles offer, when I realized how approaching and connecting with myself and others can emerge through unveiling my broader culture. That’s why I want to decolonize my own practice as a German-Vietnamese choreographer by reconnecting with Vietnamese dance traditions. I am answering the question of how my decolonized body moves by traveling to Vietnam to learn traditional, ritual, and spiritual Vietnamese dances and integrate them into my practice.
Research Trip to Vietnam September 2025
