VietNamNet Bridge - People in Ha Noi are eagerly looking forward to the first street festival slated for next Tuesday at Ly Thai To Garden. The festival is being organised by the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Danish Embassy on the occasion of an official Danish royal visit to Vietnam from November 2 to 6. Festival director Tri Minh gave his views on the event.

Hanoi audiences to join street art festival

Could you briefly describe what we’ll expect at the first street festival that Ha Noi has hosted?

The street festival will have a variety of performances from different art genres. It will take place at Ly Thai To Garden from 2.30pm to 9pm on November 3. The garden will become a big stage with four corners.

Vietnamese dance group Big Toe and Danish Uppercut will perform at the hip-hop stage. While Vietnamese artist Dao Anh Khanh and his friends will show their creativity at the experimental stage. The traditional art stage will host performances of artists from Thang Long ca tru (ceremonial singing) club.

The artists will take turns to perform with the audience watching all the performances.

When artists from the Thang Long ca tru club perform, others like Big Toe will create graffiti or circus artists will perform without music. When Big Toe performs, ca tru artists will showcase and introduce their traditional instrument.

What would you say will be the highlights of the seven-hour street festival?

There are three main points. First is the opening ceremony with singer Tung Duong and Big Toe. People will be able to enjoy talking with the artists about ca tru, circus, jazz and hip hop. The performance at 7pm with the participation of many of the artists will be a highlight of the festival.

The Long Bien Memory Festival was recently held in Ha Noi. How do the two differ?

The Long Bien Memory Festival was an art festival. While a street festival is more street culture. This is the first time Ha Noi has had a street festival. Many different kinds of art from the traditional to contemporary will be performed at the same place, for different audiences.

If I can make a comparison, I would say that street festival brings art to closer to people. And I think that the interaction between the artists and the audiences are very important. Each performance will take about 20 minutes and the audience will have chance to understand more about the art. The audience can even practice the art they like.

The audience are a key factor at a street festival.

Do you think the street festival will be welcomed?

The festival is expected to bring different kinds of art to people. It’s useful for both the artist and the audience, who will meet and talk about their art. It is also chance for people to enjoy arts for free. It also offers a showcase for forms of art that people are unfamiliar with.

Actually, street festivals are very new in Viet Nam. This one will draw attention and prepare people for the next one in 2010 which will celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of capital Ha Noi.

Have you received much support from people? Do you think the street festival will be a success?

Vietnamese artists have offered their support and they’ve been willing to take part in the festival. I organised several events in 2008 and 2009. And I also have performed at art festivals in Europe.

VietNamNet/VNS