Kim-Sanh Châu is mesmerizing in her piece, BLEU NÉON. Between dance, movement and Vietnamese rap is a journey to the rediscovery of an imaginary homeland.

In a short series of sold-out relaxed performances* at Montreal, arts interculturels (MAI), Châu moves methodically through variations of squatting, glowing in a magnificent, multicoloured haze of neon light, designed by Jon Cleveland. The room is set up in thrust (audience on three sides), with chairs and cushions on the ground. Cables are loosely hanging around the back wall, coiled along the edges with neon lights piled on all sides.

As we waited for the performance to start, we read translation booklets for the performance’s texts in in Vietnamese, English, and French. There were colouring pages, snacks and prior to the performance, we were told exactly how the show would unfold and that our seating could be adjusted without a problem if we were not comfortable.

With Châu , we discussed how nostalgia acted as a coping mechanism for Vietnamese refugees in the 80s; helping them to imagine a world and home that no longer existed for them. The Vietnam that Châu knows well is so vibrant, bustling, and youthful. This performance integrated the music and movement of these different eras, these varying nostalgias, the loss of language, and difficulties surrounding sexual objectification along the way.

Though Châu does not speak Vietnamese, she learned each rap for this performance phonetically. In the talk-back after the show, she explained how Toronto rapper JONAIR wrote the pieces in Vietnamese, elaborating on the distance children of diasporas have from their cultures.

Châu’s collaborator Chi, of Hazy Montagne Mystique / Chittakone Baccam, grew up in Laos, right next to Vietnam and was able to access these points of nostalgia through his grandparents’ audio tapes. Together, Châu and Chi create a dreamy and dark soundscape of ambient music, modern rap beats and cassette tapes from another time.

Creator and performer Kim-Sanh Châu is a Montreal-based Vietnamese-French contemporary dance artist. She has lived in Montreal for over 15 years and has a parallel life in Vietnam, with a dance studio, community, lovers and mentors. Her practice comprises choreographic installation and video-making. Châu is interested in the emergence of imaginary landscapes through the body, distilled from far away dreams, imaginary memories and psychotropic reminiscences.

It was an absolute pleasure to watch this performance in a tiny space. With an audience all around, facing each other, we took a dive into her magical world.

This show will be back in Montreal for Vietnamese Culture Week in September and will also be performed in Vietnam later this year.

The BLEU NÉON soundtrack is provided by Montreal's Hazy Montagne Mystique / Chittakone Baccam (composition), JONAIR, Duy Quang Vu (paroles rap), and Vietnamese experimental trio Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective

*All BLEU NÉON performances have a more relaxed attitude to noise and movement within the theatre. The reception, soundscape and visual atmosphere are adapted to create a calm and inclusive environment for all.

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