I am so excited to present my interviewee for the December issue. With Christmas being a few days away, December is indeed a special month and it is just right to introduce you to another star – someone as distinguished and talented as Viet Dang.

Viet Dang strikes me as someone uncomplicated and blunt. I wrote asking if he would be willing to answer a few questions for my column and 24 hours have hardly passed when I received a positive response in two sentences. Within two days, I had what I wanted. I love working with uncomplicated people.

Viet Dang_Interview En L'air

Ethnically Vietnamese and raised in Switzerland, Viet has danced at the Grammy Awards, the MTV European Music Awards, AMA’s for artist such as Christina Aguilera, Rihanna and Muse. He has also danced in Music Video for Stars like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Sara Bareilles etc.

He has worked as an assistant choreographer for U.S. singer and top star Ke$ha for the Swiss Music Awards.

Viet has received universal acclaim for his choreography of the TV series «So You Think You Can Dance» in Poland as well for his outstanding work for music video productions in Switzerland and abroad.

Viet Dang teaches Hip Hop Workshops and Masterclasses on a regular base all around the globe such as Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Japan, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, Germany etc.

Every Tuesday and Friday he is teaching at IDA Hollywood in Los Angeles.

Being an asian myself and a lover of modern dance, I am so proud of everything that Viet has achieved.  He came to Switzerland at 18 months after his family was granted asylum. For more about his story in english, read here and for german, read here.

How did you end up as a dancer? Is Viet Dang your real name?

Yes, Viet Dang is my real name. A lot of Vietnamese people have this name. It’s the vietnamese equivalent to the Swiss Stefan Müller. hahahah. Guess how many there is?!?

Like many good things in life “dance” happened to me. and I was open then to receive it. I had no clue what I was doing, but I was young. All I knew was dance felt good. So I kept doing it.

Who’s your influencer?

First ist was my dance teachers. Barbara Schiess and Jasmin Weder, Apo Karpuz. Then when I got older and started to open up my microcosmos I discovered teacher from LA who came to teach Workshop in Zürich. Later I started traveling and took classes in London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles.

Why did you decide to pursue your career in LA and not stay in Switzerland?

Let me put it this way. I had to decide between either following my heart and to live up to my fullest potential of the best Viet Dang I can be.  Or listen to my fears and let them lead me to a life seeking for security. Besides security is a dead end word. It doesn’t really exist if you think about it.

So what would you decide? Listen to you heart or your fears? And why did I leave for Los Angeles? the Showbiz industry especially for my kind of dance, which is hip hop, jazz funk and commercial dance, is more developed here in Los Angeles.. There are more opportunities here.

Viet Dang_Interview En L'air

© Robert Eikelpoth

Tell us what you like most in your current profession.

My life is like I’m on holidays 365 days. I do what I like/love, when I want and how I want it. It’s hard to believe, if you have asked me a few years ago that following my heart would lead up to this… I would have told you, that you’re a lunatic.

I dance or choreograph and workout every day. Have casting and auditions here and there. and have shooting for music videos, commercials, on stage, with artist and lately also film and TV.  Or sometimes I have nothing and then I enjoy my free time.

What do you hate most? 

Hate is a strong word. And I don’t hate anything. The only thing that is bothering me is [my] mind, my ego. I put limitations to myself where there is none. I set up ridiculous rules which are completely unnecessary or I get stuck in old patterns and believe that [they] don’t have any ground or never really apply in first place. But I’m getting better at it.

Do you have any regrets? If yes, what would you have done otherwise?

I don’t have any regrets. Everything in my life happened when it was suppose to happen. But if I could choose I would have made the transition earlier, from living a life lead by fear into a life lead by my heart/calling.

More concrete.. I have spent many many many years studying something at a university that I thought I should or need to do. Because I am supposed to do so.  Because everyone does. Society says so, and also peers and family. But I was not happy at all. I’m not saying that University is a bad thing. It just wasn’t for me.

You speak 7 languages, what are they?

I speak Vietnamese, German, French and English… und natirlig au Baseldytsch 🙂 Spanish and Italian – I learned on the road because I was teaching workshops all around Europe at one point, a lot in Sicily and Spain.

And I speak a little bit of Japanese. Right now I am learning Greek…. Hahahaha

Viet Dang_Interview En L'air

© Robert Eikelpoth

You’ve worked with A LOT of Hollywood stars. Who’s your favorite to work with so far?

I do not have any favorites. Let me ask you a question. Of all the jobs you had which boss is your favorite boss? The one that is goal oriented, but treats you well on the way to it. So I like all the bosses in my case stars or starlets that have the same mindset.

If you could change one thing in this world, what would it be? Why?

Encourage people to live to the fullest potential by listening to their heart.  And don’t live a life lead by fear. And why? Try it for just one day … then you’ll know why.

Are there any goals you still wish to achieve?

Yes there are many things I still want to do. But I don’t have anything concrete anymore. There is a lot that I have achieved and there are a few that I haven’t achieved yet. Only because I think it’s good for me, doesn’t mean it’s really good for me and the greater good. So I trust that the best things will come to me when it’s supposed to be. And meanwhile I make sure to hone my skills and live a happy/healthy life.

Viet Dang_Interview En L'air

Any plans of coming back to Basel sometime soon? Would you welcome an artistic collaboration between Armando and you?

I am often in Europe and also [in] Basel to teach Workshop and knowledge I have acquired abroad.

And collaborate with Armando… if it happens to occur, of course. He is a very inspiring person and powerful dancer/choreographer.

Favorite book?

Louise L. Hay – Heal Your Body

How would you like people to remember you?

I don’t know.. And I am too young or too old to put myself under the pressure of wanting to leave behind any kind of legacy. I will live life happy and follow my calling. Some people might find this inspiring  … some not. I’m happy either way.

Any words of advice to aspiring young dancers?

Don’t judge yourself or let other people judge you…. Be nice to yourself and your body. If you like to dance, then dance for the sake of it. And keep doing it. Persistency is the key not talent. Everything else will align if you do it with the best of your intention.

For more info about Viet, visit  http://www.vietdang.ch.

Viet Dang_Interview En L'air


Main photo by Robert Eikelpoth