The Vietnam Poppin Scene

There are three sections on this post

- The Vietnam Poppin Scene [VNA]
- Videos [VNB]
- Information [VNC]

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The Vietnam Poppin Scene [VNA]

This is a variation from a pm conversation that I had on youtube.

For those who don't already know, I've just returned from my trip to Vietnam and Thailand. It's great to be back, and I'm really looking forward to 2010. This article is about my experiences and observations while I was there.

Note:
I did manage meet/bump into a few dancers and poppers in Thailand (Bangkok) on the last night before going back to Vietnam, but didn't really get to spend much time with them to get a good idea of how the scene was like. I know there is a scene there from watching their videos on youtube.


Introduction

2004

My last time overseas trip was in the summer of 2004, it was my first time to Vietnam. I remember that I was quite reluctant to go because I always had the "Vietnam is a third world country, so it will be crap (humid, dirty, smelly etc) compared to Australia" mentality. I finally got to meet my many relatives, experience the crazy traffic, the constant beeping of bikes and cars, crossing roads, almost getting killed, getting pulled while in the markets, very cheap food (yet smaller servings compared to what i normally get back home), eating 4 meals a day, drinking beer (Heineken and Tiger Beer) at every meal with ice, and standing out like a sore thumb.

By the end of it, I wished i could of stayed a bit longer, two weeks just not long enough. Yes I was dancing back then, but I didn't really have the drive and courage to go out and search for dancers to meet. I also didn't think that there would be any popping in Vietnam (back to the third world country thinking mentality). But in reality if I did actually go meet poppers when I was there, I would of met a very young scene (after talking to poppers in my recent 2009-2010 trip).

2009-2010

I was a lot more hyped for my current trip, especially after watching the Top Gear episode where they travelled from South Vietnam to the North Vietnam on motorbikes, the prospect of meeting, jamming and battling overseas dancers and potentially entering my first international competition (which didn't happen).


Vietnam

Culture

I feel that it is the Vietnamese culture that is to work hard at what you do (i think it will be the same with most South East Asian Countries) while Australian culture is quite laid back. Evidence that a country's culture will influence the dance culture. Keep that point in mind.

The North and the South

There are two distinct scenes in the country, the North (Hanoi) and the South (HCM). I haven't been to the North (it would of been a 1hour-ish plane trip), but from what i was told by the South poppers, that the North started poppin a few years earlier than the South. So generally the North poppers would be older than the South. From memory the majority of the South poppers that i met were still in late teens, I was probably the eldest popper there at each session.

Learning

Even though Dey Dey and Cathy were the only 'famous' international poppers that was invited over (during Nov of 2009) compared to Australia where we had Suga Pop, Poppin Hood, Slick Dogg, Tempo, Aqua Boogie, Frantick, Umin, Link, Loose Joint, Salah, Great Lion, JR Boogaloo and Poppin Sam to show us how (their way) to dance, their progression and level of the dance surprised me. I doubt what I saw was a direct influence from Dey Dey or Cathy, it seems they have been doing what they were doing way before them. I'm sure the female poppers were probably the most influenced from their trip. It is safe to say that their main way of learning the dance is via youtube and off their peers.

At the Jam/Training Session

I managed to attend a handful of training sessions while i was in the country. They hold training/jamming sessions 3 times a week usually from 6pm - 9pm. They usually train with other activities (eg Bboying, TKD, Hip Hop, Ballroom etc) in the same venue, which all had been in some sort of community hall. I remember when i was trying to use the mirrors (from a distance) but i was too tall for it, had to go right up to it to fit. I met up with lil Nat at my first training session and we represented Australia! Never seen her since.

District 10 training spot

Compared to Australia (Sydney) on a single night, in Vietnam there are several locations that training is held, each location tend to have a 'home' crew that trains there. 10+ poppers usually attend each session. Actually sounds like the bboy scene in Sydney. Speaking of crews, there are a lot of them in the country.

The Dancers, the People

They drill hard and dont tend to really waste much time during the session. So their technique is good, but i feel they lack the "WHYs" in the dance because no one really told them (a downfall from learning from videos). I could be totally wrong about this because I cant speak Vietnamese nor do they speak English at a good enough level to really have a in depth discussion. When i asked a popper about what Cathy and Dey Dey comments about the Vietnam scene he said "Technique is good, but you guys need to feel more". He didn't really understood the feel part. Again it could be just a language barrier.

District 10 - Funk Masters Crew

Though it doesnt really matter because in time they will figure it out themselves even without someone 'internationally famous' telling them, and of course there those people who JUST DO without thinking.

What really surprised me was how long that they were dancing for, at one session, a hand full of them were only dancing for about 8months and look at the level (given their situation). So meeting these Vietnamese dancers was quiet inspirational to me. It is the first time for me going overseas and actually meeting dancers.

There are a lot more female poppers in Vietnam and they are pretty good as well.

I noticed that almost every popper i met had a dancing name and wear fake/look alike hush puppies.

District 11 - Various crews

Able to speak and understand Vietnamese will really help communicate with the dancers (duh!), but if you can't (like me), there are people with that can speak English (and help you translate), but don't expect D&M conversations.

Styles

The majority of poppers that I met did boogaloo (and poppin). The waving that I saw was pretty much similar how other Asian countries waved. I can't remember if i saw any tutting while i was there. After talking and watching them it seems that their definition of 'animation' was sort of an umbrella term for 'illusionary' styles (I think it is the same with other Asian countries). Though boogaloo is the most popular style, they still see the other styles as equals.

Majority pop their legs by using the 'snap the leg back' technique, so I told them how felt about that (given that they are all young and all). I personally am trying to get rid of this habit myself and find a better/safer way to hit my legs.

Music

They seem to really like the instrumental, dj mulda, mellow, gfunk style of music. I personally feel that those type of songs are a bit boring to dance to. I was really hoping for some funk. I realised that a lot the poppers there really know their music (as in they know all the little parts of it), basically how to freak the music. Not really sure what type of music they will play in competitions.

My Conclusion

For those who want to know what does it feel when you go overseas, after meeting the Vietnamese scene it actually feels exactly like going interstate within Australia, because each city is so far apart. Im not too sure if this will be the case if i went to a more 'renowned scene' like France, Japan, Korea, La etc. So for the time being, those who cant afford to travel overseas to meet dancers can always travel interstate.

Though i didnt really learn anything 'new' from Vietnam it reminded me and made me consciously aware of a lot of things that I have forgotten or just weren't conscious about. It made me realise that Australia has already got all the tools it needs to grow a positive scene, we just have to learn/figure it out how to use it. The trip also reminded me the effectiveness of drilling (yes i know it's a no brainer), but in reality im not a person that drills over and over because i get bored.

It was very wonderful to see how dance connect people from every. I remember when i was in Thailand (Bangkok), I saw a group of bboys training so I walked up to them and did the fresno to ask if there was any poppers present, and they understood it straight away.

I really enjoyed and inspired after meeting all these dancers, looking forward for my next trip there and jamming with you guys there.

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Videos [VNB]

Here are some of my videos of my 'battles'. Click on the name to open the link.

Vietnam - District 10

Poppin
Danis Kool & Nat VS Bo & Rufu (Weds 30th Dec 2009)

Tony Animation VS Danis Kool (Wed 30th Dec 2009)

Red Bear VS Danis Kool (Wed 30th Dec 2009)

Locking
Locker Boo & T-Rex VS Danis Kool (Wed 30th Dec 2009)


Vietnam - District 11

? VS Pop' N Brokie (Wed 6th Jan 2010)

Danis Kool VS Lusy (Wed 6th Jan 2010)

Danis Kool VS Wumin (Wed 6th Jan 2010)


Vietnam - District 1

Meshia VS Danis Kool (Sat 21st Jan 2010) - 1 of 2

Meshia VS Danis Kool (Sat 21st Jan 2010) - 2 of 2


Thailand - Bangkok (outside of MBK)

Danis Kool in Thailand A (16th Jan 2010)

Danis Kool in Thailand B (16th Jan 2010)

Danis Kool in Thailand C (16th Jan 2010)

Danis Kool in Thailand D (16th Jan 2010)

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Information [VNC]

For anyone that might be travelling to Vietnam or Thailand in the future and want to hook up or contact the local dancers check out these sites. You can also check my youtube videos information box for information of the location of the training spot, should double check with the locals yourself.

Vietnam
- Peace United Vietnam (http://peaceunit.vn) - It is the Ozbboy of Vietnam, there is a 'funkstyle' section and it's pretty active. Use google translate (to give you are brief idea) if you want to see what they are discussing about. You can type to them in English because a lot of them can understand a decent level of English. Thanks Tri (Juse crew) for hooking me up with site.

- Youtube - just type in "Vietnam" "Poppin" "Funkstyles" and there will be more than enough videos that comes up, then check their profiles for more videos and contacts.

Thailand
- ThailandPopper.com (http://www.thailandpopper.com/) - A website dedicated to poppin in Thailand. I've yet to figure out how to register for the site, but there is a chat box on the main page.

- Thailand Popper Youtube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/ThailandPopper) - For those who want to keep tabs on the Thailand scene check the link out.

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"Just because you don’t think it’s right, doesn’t mean it’s wrong."
Darth Danis Kool