to dance…
Lyon D. Nguyen
or not
to dance…
ABOUT ME
My name is Lyon D. Nguyen. I am a movement artist currently living and working in Vietnam. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University in Texas, U.S. My artistic practice explores the psyche and the nature of human existence, and I do this by playing with performative structures, theatrical gimmicks, and embodied experiences. My works have been presented across festivals and venues in both the United States and Vietnam.
Beyond choreography and performance, I also see myself as a practitioner across many facets of dance and performance culture. I write about dance; I take dance photographs; I make dance documentation; I create screendance works; I stage manage dance productions, and organize community dance events. In addition, I have taught at University of Utah and the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational School of Dance, and have led countless workshops throughout the U.S. and Vietnam. I even run a TikTok channel dedicated to introducing dance history and theories to Vietnamese audiences through short-form content.
WHAT ELSE!?
WHAT FOR?
I am also involved in community-based and socially engaged initiatives. In 2019, I co-founded the Queer Spectra Arts Festival in Salt Lake City, a festival dedicated to uplifting LGBTQIA+ voices through art and dialogue. After returning to Vietnam, I started “nhận thấy chuyển động”, a dance viewing series that engages Vietnamese creative communities with dance through academic inquiry and critical discussion. I also founded CLB thân nghiệm - my own dance education platform encouraging embodied physical learning as well as experimentation. Most recently, I co-produced and directed “The Echoes of Our Touch”, an inclusive arts initiative offering free arts education programs and collaborative performances for Vietnamese Deaf community.
All of this comes from a deep commitment to dance - whether as a passion, a vocation, or simply something that “tổ nghề” - the Vietnamese patron saint of dance - has bound me to. Whatever the reason, I remain grateful to be able to dedicate myself to this field and to the communities that continue to shape it.
WITH THAT SAID
MOVINNG FORWARD
I would like to continues researching and creating at the intersection of performance, technology, social practice, and community building. Wherever it is, I believe that dance and art can dismantle barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and help people see one another more clearly.
to dance
or not to dance
that isn’t the question
we’re human
after all