Flowers are presented to the dancers of the Hervé Koubi Dance Company

Making its debut before Hue audiences, the performance “What the Day Owes the Night” (“Duyen Ngay No Dem”) created a deeply emotional artistic experience. Over the course of more than 60 minutes, the dancers told a story of memory, origins, and the search for human identity through the language of movement.

First premiered during Marseille-Provence 2013 - European Capital of Culture, the production quickly became a standout work on international stages thanks to its innovative choreography and remarkable cultural depth.

Inspired by the novel of the same name by writer Yasmina Khadra, "What the Day Owes the Night" features 14 dancers, mostly from hip-hop and street art backgrounds. Their energetic performance seamlessly blends hip-hop, b-boying, contemporary dance, ballet, as well as acrobatic and gymnastic movements.

The powerful yet emotionally charged choreography, combined with highly interactive staging, offered audiences a unique artistic experience. Prolonged rounds of applause followed many of the performance’s climactic moments.

Also appearing during the evening was South Korea’s Pungnyu Bongi Arts Alliance, marking its second participation in Hue International Music Week 2026.

The delegation brought together distinguished artists and performing arts organizations from Gyeongju, a city regarded as one of the birthplaces of traditional Korean music. Through performances featuring traditional instruments, Pungnyu Bongi introduced Hue audiences to distinctive aspects of Korean cultural heritage.

Particularly noteworthy was the ensemble performance of the Vietnamese folk song “Beo Dat May Troi” using traditional Korean instruments. Performed by six artists, the piece offered a fresh interpretation of the familiar melody from northern Vietnam’s Red River Delta region and received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The combination of French contemporary dance and South Korean traditional music created a vibrant and colorful evening on the banks of the Perfume River, further affirming the Hue Festival’s role as a platform for cultural and artistic exchange between Hue and international friends.

Images from the performance night captured by Hue Today Weekly reporters:

“What the Day Owes the Night” created a deeply emotional artistic atmosphere. 
The performance seamlessly combined hip-hop, b-boying, contemporary dance, ballet, acrobatics, and gymnastics 
Pungnyu Bongi introduced audiences to the unique values of traditional Korean performing arts 
 Artists performing using traditional Korean musical instruments
By LIEN MINH