Back for more on our amazing tour of Asia, 2024.

After seven wonderful days abroad in South Korea, the 12 of us dancers (Choomna and South Chicago Dance Theatre) boarded a plane to travel directly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The best part about this leg of the tour was our wonderful guide and host, Sam Jeong. Kia and Sam are long-time friends and Sam is responsible for bringing us to a festival in Vietnam come 2025. This years’ trip was all about meeting the dance company in Vietnam (Lyricist) and getting to know each others’ styles so that our collaboration next season can be successful.

We only spent three short days in Vietnam, but they were impactful, jam-packed, and so well-organized. After exploring a whole new country and switching time zones, it was so great to have Sam host us – and WOW did he HOST us. Lunches were delivered right to the dance studio each day – even coffees one of the days (Vietnamese coffee is no joke, it’s strong and delicious!). Family dinner was reserved at various restaurants each night precisely at 6:30pm. Night one we went to a rooftop Vietnamese restaurant called “Secret Garden”. There I tried full shrimp and other family-style passed dishes while soaking up the humidity of Vietnam. I LOVE the heat and I felt so good arriving to 90 degree weather.

Other nights we indulged in Vegetarian cuisine along with a Japanese fusion pizza place. Everything was amazing and I can’t wait to go back to try more of their cuisine. As far as the dancing goes, it was the best feeling to create, learn, and explore each others’ genres of dance without any pressure. Typically when we collaborate with a group, we have to hit the ground running. For these two days we were able to learn each country’s traditional style, take class from each company’s director, and explore some collaborative movement with one another. Dancing with everyone felt so natural and we had only just met. That’s the magic of Choreographic Diplomacy.

A beautiful trip, a beautiful collaboration of dance, and such an appreciation for where South Chicago Dance Theatre has taken me!