OVER THE BRIDGE

The 7^th Edition of the Festival will conclude in Vientiane with a special event titled Over the Bridge. The evening will unfolds in three movements — beginning with a powerful Lao poem on womanhood, followed by a reflective short film on living heritage, and concluding with a contemporary dance performance honouring the resilience and voices of Lao women.

PROGRAMME

Poetry reading of Strength of Lao Women by Bounma Phonemany (5 min)

Screening of Luang Prabang Soul by Xaisongkham Induangchanthy (15 min)

Mrs. Hongamad, a classically-trained singer and dancer, once performed for soldiers at the Royal Palace. Now, an elder, the Luang Prabang native passes on these traditional art forms and reflects on her history. With support from Oxfam’s VOICE program, Many Voices, One Laos is a short film program that focuses on Lao identity.

Contemporary Dance Performance Phuying by Fanglao Dance Company (20 min)

Phuying (meaning “Women” in Lao) is a groundbreaking contemporary dance performance created by Laos’ first contemporary dance group, the Fanglao Dance Company. Born from the need to use what they have to create something meaningful, the dancers share their personal and collective stories. In a country with no established dance market or large dance communities, they fight to make their voices heard. Each dancer brings her own unique experience, reflecting the complexities of life as a woman in Laos—strength, vulnerability, resilience, and softness. Phuying is not only about the struggles of women in Laos but also honours the universal concept of womanhood: the nurturing, powerful, yet gentle force that defines women as mothers, daughters, and individuals. Through movement, they transform their lived experiences into an emotional narrative of identity and empowerment. 

This powerful piece was crafted by dancer, choreographer and company co-founder, Noutnapha Soydala. The Fanglao Dance Company is a leading presence in the Lao dance scene, not only for their striking symbiosis of traditional dance and hip hop styles in its work but also due to their efforts to organise workshops and festivals. “Fanglao” means to “listen to Laos”, embodying the approach of the creative forces driving the company and their intentions to highlight the untapped potential of their local arts and culture scene.

This event is free and part of Meeting Point 2025, organised by the Mekong Cultural Hub. 

Discover the full AECFest programme.