Australia to mark its presence at Hue Festival 2010

Australia will send numerous young and talented artists to the Hue Festival 2010, Vietnam’s leading cultural event, said the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.
“I am proud to introduce these young and talented Australian artists to Vietnamese audiences... This year’s festival will feature a large Australian presence, furthering strengthening links between Hue and Australia ,” said Australian Ambassador Allaster Cox.
Among the Australian artists are dancers from the Carnival of the Divine Imagination, well-known electronic music composer Darrin Verhagen and a group of young performers from Sydney.
At the Hue Festival 2010, the Carnival of the Divine Imagination, who have performed successfully in major Australian cities and in Singapore, China and India for the past eight years, will introduce their newest work titled “Elixia”, telling a tale of two companions’ depravation, separation, escape and reunion.
Meanwhile, Verhagen will feature video art that promises to bring amazement to Hue audiences.
During the festival, Australia will also showcase its culture via the South Australia Wine and Food Show that aims to promote links between the two festival cities of Hue and Adelaide.
Australia has left a distinct impression at each Hue festival. In 2008, the Australian artistic group Wellspring worked with Hue artists to create “Dragon and Phoenix”, a large-scale sculptural work depicting two symbolic animals important to Vietnamese spiritual life.