Pham Hoang Nam, director of the Vietnamese version of the American reality dancing show “So You Think You Can Dance” talked with Tuoi Tre to share why he took on the show, which is in its first year in the country.

Local viewers thought from your previous shows that you’re not a person who likes the world of dancing, why did you accept to take this show?

This is a chance for me to discover another side of me as well as for audiences to get to know more about the art of dancing. I know young people who are passionate this kind of art always desire to have a true playground for them. Still, people who usually watch my shows will realize that I rarely bring dancing into singing performances. To me, a singing stage is not an ideal playground for dancers. “So You Think you Can Dance” is that place where they can show people what they’ve got, no matter if they are amateurs or professionals. With the show, I hope to discover many dance talents for Vietnamese showbiz.

Is there any other reason?

- My daughter is studying contemporary dance with one of the show’s judges, John Huy Tran, and she is also a fan of the American version of “So You Think You can Dance.” Looking at her, I’ve found many interesting things behind the dance moves. I’ve also seen a struggle of the youths amid many culture waves. If there’s no right orientation, it’s easy for them to get lost and follow negative trends.

Dancing itself is beautiful but could be dangerous if people take the wrong approach. If people know how to explore the good ways of dancing, it will help them to complete their inside and outside beauty.

So are those all the reasons you took on the show?

- Yes! TV is a land where everything can spread widely. Shows on TV have the chance to approach to every single house. So a good TV show is the best way to orient local youths. The job will be hard but it deserves to be. TV viewers may feel bored with singing contests; a dance show will be a breath of fresh air.

Moreover, the interesting part is that dancers must stand on their own to perform their own dance languages and viewers must have to think to find out what it is.

Audiences have seen many TV programs featuring many kinds of art expressed through words and forget how to enjoy art through images. Dancers are forced to create their own images which can express their visual and mental beauty.

 Marko Germar (L) and Melanie Moore on October 9 arrived in HCMC to be the show's guest mentors. Photo: Tuoi Tre