Repertory

Anicca / Impermanence (2019)

Returning to stage after eight years of absence as a performer, Minh Tran is creating a new work for his company “Anicca/Impermanence”, which will be premiering on February 21-24, 2019 at Reed College, Performing Arts Building Massee Performance Lab.  This work explores the farewell ritual to departed loved ones as inspired by Tran’s recent loss of his parents.

Tran’s work is particularly noted for its fusion of traditional Asian techniques and contemporary Western dance, underscored by an unwavering commitment to breaking down cultural and racial barriers.  The main theme of his work is the value of diversity, which gives meaning to the content of his choreography.  The Oregonian praised Tran for having, “…a style that is an idiosyncratic fusion of traditional Chinese opera movement and Western postmodern dance,” and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer raved, “…both precise and fast-flowing, Tran is blessed with confident, complex inner musical rhythms.”

The program is danced by Tran’s 7-member Portland-based company: Suzanne Chi, Margretta Hansen, Shaun Keylock, Carla Mann, Andrés Peraza-Aguillón, Rachel Slater, and Tran.  Drawing from the spiritual world of Southeast Asia, the 49-minute performance without intermission features 7 sections of 7 minutes each by 7 dancers to follow the Buddhist tradition on the 49th day after death.

Set & lighting design for this work is provided by artist Peter Ksander, stage projection design by Marilys Ernst, original sound score design by Heather Perkins, costume design by Sandy Hedgepeth, and guest performer Brent Woodson Smith of Savage Nightingale.

“Minh Tran Returns” - Stage & Studio

“The Dance of Death” - Reed Magazine

Forgotten Memories (2007)

"Forgotten Memories" is an artistic response to Tran's visit to Cambodia with Dance Theater Workshop’s Mekong Project. While there Tran visited S-21 or Tuol Sleng (“hill of the poison tree”), an abandoned suburban Phnom Penh high school and site of a Khmer Rouge interrogation center (1975-1979). Over 17,000 prisoners were interrogated, tortured, and executed inside the walls of S-21.

• 5 dancers, 55 minutes
• Lighting design by Malina Rodriguez
• Visual Design by Christine Bourdette
• Film by Ryan Jeffrey
• Commissioned score by Dariush Dolat-shahi

The development of "Forgotten Memories" was made possible with support from the Oregon Arts Commission, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Geffen Mesher & Company, and McDonald Financial Group - a subsidiary of KeyBank.

Nocturnal Path (2003)

Draws from the spiritual world of Southeast Asia, and is based on images of archaeological reliefs and mural paintings from temples throughout the region.

• 6 dancers, 45 minutes
• Lighting design by Bruce Keller
• Lamps designed by Lam Quang
• Music by Michael Stearns, Lou Harrison, Dead Can Dance, Thich Nhat Hanh, Yungchen Lhamo, Philip Glass

Nocturnal Path was commissioned by the White Bird/Tiffany & Co. New Works fund, and made possible by the Doris Duke Fund for Dance of the National Dance Project, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Altria Group, Inc. Additional support provided by a Regional Arts & Culture Council Project Grant, Vessel, inc., and Portland Taiko's Community Performance Outreach Project.

Ancestor (2000)

A tribute to the grandfathers that we only know through stories and family portraits.

• Solo, 8 minutes
• Choreographed in collaboration with Eko Supriyanto
• Music by Ensemble Alcatraz, Georges Ligety, Sulawesi

Ancestor was developed as the result of an ongoing dialogue and creative exchange as part of the Asian and Pacific Performance Exchange (APPEX) Conference at UCLA over the summers 1997-2000. Additional support provided by the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

The War Within (1996)

"The Road Home" is an autobiographical dance journal of Tran's first return trip to Vietnam in 1994. This particular section recalls memories and experiences in South Vietnam under the communist regime from 1975-1980 and his escape to Thailand.

• Duet, 14 minutes
• Lighting design by Bruce Keller
• Text by Minh Tran
• Commissioned score by Dale Svart & Paul Smailes

"The Road Home" was originally presented by Portland State University's Portland International Performance Festival with additional support provided by the Regional Arts & Culture Council.