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| Drawing gazes whenever they perform |
Aedus Crew was founded in 2024, born from a simple wish to create a “home” where people sharing the same passion could stay connected for the long term. The group now has 20 official members, mostly students; several have already graduated and are working in the medical field but continue to accompany the team.
Many members began with choreography and covering dance routines from famous music and dance groups, strongly influenced by K-pop. From those familiar steps, the group gradually expanded its creative range, exploring hip-hop, waacking (a style focused on expressive arm movements), tutting (a hand-shaping dance style) and other street dance elements. They chose dance over other art forms because it offers a broader space for individual personalities to be expressed and harmonized. Each member brings a distinct colour, and that diversity allows Aedus to find a shared voice: performing together while preserving individual identity.
As one of the founding members, Nguyen Phuoc Thu Trang shared that being affiliated with a university presents specific challenges. The lineup changes with each academic year, and overlapping practical class schedules make it difficult to arrange consistent rehearsal times. Within the vibrant student movement environment, Aedus also faced initial challenges in maintaining and developing its membership.
Under current conditions, Aedus Crew mainly rehearses in the schoolyard or at the Quoc Hoc Stele area, open spaces close to the community. Without access to professional studios, the group has grown accustomed to practicing on open grounds, by the riverside breeze and under the gaze of passersby. These rehearsal sessions sometimes turn into spontaneous mini-performances, helping bring street dance closer to Hue public.
“Hue is calm but still very open to new things. In recent years, the community has embraced hip-hop more positively. The traditional values and contemplative character of Hue have actually become a source of inspiration for our creativity and performances”, Thu Trang said.
From a stylistic and technical perspective, Tieu Lien – a group’s member, noted that the group currently focuses on showcase dance, in which members perform together while combining multiple genres in a single piece. “Choreography remains the main material, alongside waacking, tutting and hip-hop. When building a routine, we adapt flexibly to the purpose of the performance. For student programs or volunteer activities, the dances are simple and cheerful; for competitions, we prioritize emotional flow, storytelling and the message the performance aims to convey”, she explained.
Speaking about memorable milestones, Aedus members became emotional recalling the “Melodies of Youth” competition organized by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University in November 2025. Tieu Lien remembered: “That was an intense but unforgettable period of rehearsals. When we stood on stage and heard the cheers from the audience, every member gave it their all. Winning First Prize in the dance category recognized not only our efforts in that competition but also the journey we have taken since the group’s early days”.