First Vietnamese Dance at Western Dance Competition

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On April 24, 2026, Thuy Van Dance Company competed in Showstopper Regionals, the nation's largest dance competition. Their goal was not to win, but to use the opportunity to dance and promote Vietnamese culture on a highly publicized platform, where a broader audience can access. What made their participation more meaningful was the fact that they turned out to be the first time a Vietnamese folk dance has ever competed in Showstopper Regionals.

Their dance piece, called "Rhythms of Harvest", is an ethnic Cao Lan folk dance that celebrates the harvest season. Through lively, rhythmic movements that mirror sowing, planting, and gathering rice, the dance honors the unity and hard work of highland farmers in the Vietnamese countryside. After competing against dozens of other dance groups, TVDC's "Rhythms of Harvest" blazed through to win 1st place Overall and 1st place in Category.

The day marked not only their victory as the first Vietnamese group to win Showstopper Regionals, but also a milestone for the Vietnamese-American community. Performing at such a prestigious competition allowed TVDC to showcase the beauty and vitality of Vietnamese culture to an even larger audience, from a local level to a national one. All eyes were on them as they proudly displayed the profound and moving nature of Vietnamese storytelling through dance.

With platinum tucked under their belts, TVDC is now qualified to compete in the Showstopper National Finals—another opportunity to showcase Vietnamese dance, and to spread the importance of cultural preservation through the performing arts. Stay tuned for more exciting and vivid dances that will be performed in Anaheim this summer at the next Showstopper event!