As a direct result of a Princess Grace Foundation Special Project Award, Thang Dao, Khanh Ly, and Ballet Austin II have come together to develop Quiet Imprint: Dao’s interpretation of personal narratives from the Vietnamese community reflecting their war experience. Specifically, the work addresses those dispersed from their homeland (the “Diaspora”) during and following the Vietnam War. The ballet depicts the arduous journey experienced by the countless displaced Vietnamese men and women who lived through the Vietnam War, particularly those who ended up in America. A key component of the project was Dao’s open dialogue with the Vietnamese elders, documenting their journey of exile, and then connecting them with the dancers of Ballet Austin II to allow for folk dance movements and stories to be directly shared. Dao worked directly with Women in America for Vietnam’s Education (WAVE) to more directly access the Vietnamese community. We hope to share Quiet Imprint with Vietnamese populated cities such as Houston, Orange County, San Jose, and Dallas with a work of art that bridges Eastern experiences through a Western aesthetic. Dao’s production was inspired by, and grounded in Ly’s soulful and transcendent performances of beloved composer Trinh Cong Son’s music. Ms. Ly has long captured the hearts of her audience by conveying the mournful, yet poetic lyrics expressed in Son’s music. The late Mr. Son, who was an iconic figure known as the “Bob Dylan of Vietnam,” wrote many songs for Ly–his close friend and musical muse. For the exceptional production of Quiet Imprint, Ly will make a special appearance to perform live with Ballet Austin II. Ly will sing ten memorable songs that have cemented in the Vietnamese ethos. “We are honored to engage in this cultural experience that is directly reflective of such a rich part of the community we serve,” says Michelle Martin, Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Austin. The 2009 Special Project Award given to Dao by the Princess Grace Foundation funded the Quiet Imprint project. The Princess Grace Foundation’s mission is to support emerging artists in theater, dance and film through the awarding of scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. This honorary grant is only available to past Princess Grace Award winners and Honoraria recipients for uniquely significant projects that advance their artistic development. In this, Dao’s fourth collaboration with Ballet Austin, the choreographer was in residence at Ballet Austin for 8 weeks, conducting movement workshops as well as interviewing Vietnamese expatriates who fled their homeland to make a new life in and around Austin. Quiet Imprint is a choreographic narrative about the Vietnamese people.
THE ARTISTS
Trinh Cong Sonwas a prominent, Vietnamese composer and songwriter with a message of love and humanity. He composed over 600 songs during his lifetime. Nearly every significant Vietnamese performer, past and present, has included his songs in their performance repertoire. Son died on April 1, 2001 in Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City at the age of 62. When he died, tens of thousands of people lined the street to pay tribute to a man that has influenced a generation.
Khanh Ly started her career at the age of fourteen when she won second place on a radio talent search in Saigon. In 1962, five years later, Trinh Cong Son requested that she perform his work, but she refused his offer. Three years later, Ly finally consented and began collaborating with Son and performing his music throughout Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, Son composed anti-war songs, which Ly performed to the troops fighting for peace. In 1969, Ly was sponsored by the Vietnamese Government to perform in Europe, making her the first Vietnamese entertainer to perform in another country. Since then, Ly has performed in the United States, Canada, and Japan.
Ballet Austin IIEstablished in 1999, Ballet Austin II is Ballet Austin’s apprentice program and second company. The 10 apprentices, ranging in age from 18-23, are employed for 34 weeks. They perform with the main company in larger productions as well as presenting their own roster of repertoire and educational programming throughout Texas. Choreographers represented in the Ballet Austin II repertoire include Stephen Mills, Gina Patterson and New American Talent/Dance finalists Thang Dao, Thaddeus Davis and Viktor Kabaniaev. Apprentices are contracted with Ballet Austin II for up to 2 years during which time they receive artistic guidance, career management counseling and job placement assistance. Ballet Austin II apprentices are recruited through Ballet Austin’s Summer Intensive Program and the year-round Professional Division (Trainee Program). Sixty percent of the main company’s current roster includes graduates of Ballet Austin II. Additionally, former Ballet Austin II dancers have joined the ranks of both ballet and modern dance companies, including Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Ballet Met, Kansas City Ballet, Kim Robards Dance Company, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, Wideman/Davis Dance and Thang Dao Dance.
Bring 
Interested in helping bring Quiet Imprint to your City? Contact Thang Dao Dance Company
ABOUT QUIET IMPRINT
As a direct result of a Princess Grace Foundation Special Project Award, Thang Dao, Khanh Ly, and Ballet Austin II have come together to develop Quiet Imprint: Dao’s interpretation of personal narratives from the Vietnamese community reflecting their war experience. Specifically, the work addresses those dispersed from their homeland (the “Diaspora”) during and following the Vietnam War. The ballet depicts the arduous journey experienced by the countless displaced Vietnamese men and women who lived through the Vietnam War, particularly those who ended up in America. A key component of the project was Dao’s open dialogue with the Vietnamese elders, documenting their journey of exile, and then connecting them with the dancers of Ballet Austin II to allow for folk dance movements and stories to be directly shared. Dao worked directly with Women in America for Vietnam’s Education (WAVE) to more directly access the Vietnamese community. We hope to share Quiet Imprint with Vietnamese populated cities such as Houston, Orange County, San Jose, and Dallas with a work of art that bridges Eastern experiences through a Western aesthetic. Dao’s production was inspired by, and grounded in Ly’s soulful and transcendent performances of beloved composer Trinh Cong Son’s music. Ms. Ly has long captured the hearts of her audience by conveying the mournful, yet poetic lyrics expressed in Son’s music. The late Mr. Son, who was an iconic figure known as the “Bob Dylan of Vietnam,” wrote many songs for Ly–his close friend and musical muse. For the exceptional production of Quiet Imprint, Ly will make a special appearance to perform live with Ballet Austin II. Ly will sing ten memorable songs that have cemented in the Vietnamese ethos. “We are honored to engage in this cultural experience that is directly reflective of such a rich part of the community we serve,” says Michelle Martin, Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Austin. The 2009 Special Project Award given to Dao by the Princess Grace Foundation funded the Quiet Imprint project. The Princess Grace Foundation’s mission is to support emerging artists in theater, dance and film through the awarding of scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. This honorary grant is only available to past Princess Grace Award winners and Honoraria recipients for uniquely significant projects that advance their artistic development. In this, Dao’s fourth collaboration with Ballet Austin, the choreographer was in residence at Ballet Austin for 8 weeks, conducting movement workshops as well as interviewing Vietnamese expatriates who fled their homeland to make a new life in and around Austin. Quiet Imprint is a choreographic narrative about the Vietnamese people.
THE ARTISTS
Trinh Cong Son was a prominent, Vietnamese composer and songwriter with a message of love and humanity. He composed over 600 songs during his lifetime. Nearly every significant Vietnamese performer, past and present, has included his songs in their performance repertoire. Son died on April 1, 2001 in Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City at the age of 62. When he died, tens of thousands of people lined the street to pay tribute to a man that has influenced a generation.
Khanh Ly started her career at the age of fourteen when she won second place on a radio talent search in Saigon. In 1962, five years later, Trinh Cong Son requested that she perform his work, but she refused his offer. Three years later, Ly finally consented and began collaborating with Son and performing his music throughout Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, Son composed anti-war songs, which Ly performed to the troops fighting for peace. In 1969, Ly was sponsored by the Vietnamese Government to perform in Europe, making her the first Vietnamese entertainer to perform in another country. Since then, Ly has performed in the United States, Canada, and Japan.
Ballet Austin II Established in 1999, Ballet Austin II is Ballet Austin’s apprentice program and second company. The 10 apprentices, ranging in age from 18-23, are employed for 34 weeks. They perform with the main company in larger productions as well as presenting their own roster of repertoire and educational programming throughout Texas. Choreographers represented in the Ballet Austin II repertoire include Stephen Mills, Gina Patterson and New American Talent/Dance finalists Thang Dao, Thaddeus Davis and Viktor Kabaniaev. Apprentices are contracted with Ballet Austin II for up to 2 years during which time they receive artistic guidance, career management counseling and job placement assistance. Ballet Austin II apprentices are recruited through Ballet Austin’s Summer Intensive Program and the year-round Professional Division (Trainee Program). Sixty percent of the main company’s current roster includes graduates of Ballet Austin II. Additionally, former Ballet Austin II dancers have joined the ranks of both ballet and modern dance companies, including Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Ballet Met, Kansas City Ballet, Kim Robards Dance Company, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, Wideman/Davis Dance and Thang Dao Dance.