The Comeback Of “Beauty, Still”: Bringing Vọng Cổ Into The Contemporary Art Space

From graceful dance rhythms to the deep resonance of Southern Vietnamese traditional music, BEAUTY, STILL marks a radiant return to Saigon Art Hub with three performances in November. The show opens up a timeless dialogue between a heritage of a thousand years and the breath of contemporary art.

Must beauty be confined within the molds of perfection? With BEAUTY, STILL, the answer is composed through soaring bodily lines that travel across layers of sound to touch layers of culture.

Following the resounding success of its first run, the contemporary art showcase BEAUTY, STILL will return to its audience at Saigon Art Hub on November 7 and 8, 2026. Alongside two international contemporary dance masterpieces and one work deeply imprinted with the Vietnamese soul, this edition brings a fresh breath of life called Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang, reviving the traditional music of Southern Vietnam in a contemporary setting as an experience rich in cultural identity.

Four Works, Four Perspectives On Beauty

Distilled from the philosophy that beauty hides within imperfection, BEAUTY, STILL weaves together four works, each with its own distinct mode of expression. Rather than clinging to a dry definition, the evening is a call that awakens every sense, inviting us to touch beauty through the lens of fate, regions of memory, and deep cultural identity.

1. MÉLANGE: Where The Body Becomes A Landscape Painting

Shaped by Korean choreographer Lim Sun-young, MÉLANGE is an exploration of the intersection of movement, sound, rhythm, and emotion. Here, the body transcends its role as a mere performance vehicle to become a wondrous space where scattered fragments collide, shatter, and blend into a poetic language. Having shone at the Goyang International Dance Festival (South Korea) in 2025, the work draws the audience into each movement through the most primal sensations, shedding the constraints of conventional linear storytelling.

2. PHẬN (Fate): Where Two Shores Of Sound Meet Human Destinies

PHẬN is a bold experiment, placing the haunting northern folk melody Bèo dạt mây trôi alongside the proud Habanera from the classic opera Carmen. This union of East and West opens endless associations about the figure of woman, about cultural distance, and about the many sorrows shared by all human lives. Under the gifted arrangement of composer Võ Thiện Thanh, the allure of a cappella, opera, piano, the growl of the cello, and the plaintive sound of the đàn kìm (two-string moon lute) burst forth, creating a dialogue that breaks past every limit of expression.

3. DẠ CỔ HOÀI LANG: Recreating Heritage In The Heart Of The Contemporary

Born from the heart of musician Cao Văn Lầu in the early 20th century, Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang is regarded as a precious jewel in the stream of Southern Vietnamese music. The song has even borne witness to the flourishing of đờn ca tài tử (amateur chamber music) and cải lương (reformed theater).

In this November reunion, the masterpiece is infused with a new soul, tailor-made for BEAUTY, STILL, with the sobbing voice of People's Artist-in-Training (NSƯT) Thy Trang blending with the Saigon Choir. The interplay between the lead voice and the choral harmonies not only drapes the familiar melody in a fresh garment, but also poses an anxious self-questioning about how we nurture and carry heritage forward. Rather than straining to recreate a musical memory, this version yearns to sow the seeds of tradition into a new ecosystem of expression, where today's audience can touch heritage through subtler layers of emotion.

4. KLISELAMEF (FEMALE SILK): A Figure Hidden Behind The Red Silk

Originating from the folk verse "Thân em như tấm lụa đào…" ("I am like a piece of red silk…"), KLISELAMEF by choreographer Nguyễn Tấn Lộc and Arabesque Vietnam portrays the Vietnamese woman through a fragile ribbon of silk in the language of contemporary dance. The contrast between an outwardly delicate appearance and the resilient inner strength flowing within is the central axis of the work. KLISELAMEF is a deep tribute to women who have stood tall and continue to walk through every storm of life. Having earned acclaim at the Italy International Dance Festival (2023) and the 29th Changmu International Performing Arts Festival (South Korea), the work proudly carries the stature of Vietnamese culture into the international art sky.

A Homecoming For Kindred Souls

BEAUTY, STILL has chosen to settle at Saigon Art Hub, a place of culture and art located at 06 Mạc Đĩnh Chi, Sài Gòn Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. In the first run, the rough walls and unfinished spaces were cherished as witnesses to the creative process. The space is like an effort to seek out creative fragments from souls that resonate with art.

Under the discerning eye of Artistic Director and choreographer Nguyễn Tấn Lộc and his team of artists, the program steadfastly opens a path of multimedia art, matchmaking dance, music, and a rich cultural heritage. The presence of Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang further widens the conversation between tradition and the present.

Heritage never dies or stays frozen in its original form; it will lift its voice in countless new shapes, as long as we keep cherishing the flame of cultural memory from the depths of our souls.