PV Dance Class: When dance becomes the common language of the Japanese community in Hanoi

With a profound love for dance, Naoko Murakami, a former professional dancer from Japan, chose Vietnam as the destination of her journey. With the motto “Dance is language, no matter where you are from”, Naoko, along with Phuong Vy (a Vietnamese teacher), established PV Dance Class – a healthy meeting space dedicated to the Japanese community residing in Hanoi.

Before coming to Vietnam, Naoko had spent 5 years pursuing a professional dancing career. She also taught for a year at the Mika Yuasa ballet school in Frankfurt, Germany. After arriving in Vietnam in 2017, she organised dance classes in Hanoi, but had to pause when COVID-19 broke out in 2019.

Naoko Murakami, a former Japanese dancer currently living and working in Hanoi. (Photo: Tuan Linh)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Naoko noticed that many children were mostly staying at home in isolation, with little opportunity to exercise or socialise with peers. This prompted her to consider creating a space where they could both move and connect through music and movement.

With the desire to provide experiences for young people and encourage them to try new things, Naoko and Vy organised dance classes: Hip hop, Street Jazz, K-pop dance, and Stretch for children aged 6 and above, with a diverse schedule throughout the week.

PV Dance Class is not just a place to learn dance, but has gradually become a familiar meeting point for many Japanese families in Hanoi. After each class, many students linger to chat, practice more, or share everyday stories in a foreign land.

Phuong Vy shared: “Witnessing the performances of students gradually being perfected and achieving success is a great motivation for me to further develop my thinking, knowledge, and delivery methods. Through this, I contribute to maintaining and spreading the love of dance to young people.”

Phuong Vy – a Vietnamese teacher directly teaching the students. (Photo: Tuan Linh)

As part of the Japan Community Dance in Hanoi, the PV Dance Class is growing, with 6-10 students per class. The largest class has up to 15 students. Performances are organised with significant investment. Since 2022, PV Dance Class has created several beneficial playgrounds for students, including "Got the moves vol.1" (2022) and "Got the moves vol.2" (2024). In 2025, "Got the moves vol.3" attracted 260 spectators, featuring performances by 109 students from the classes.

For many students, the showcase is not just a performance but also an opportunity to step out of their usual shyness. After months of practice, the moment of standing under the stage lights and hearing the audience's applause becomes a memorable experience for both students and teachers.

Showcase: Got the moves vol. 3. (Photo: Courtesy by author).

Having lived in Vietnam for 8 years, Naoko never thought she would stay here for so long. But with the success of PV Dance Class and "Got the moves", she found a reason to continue her full commitment to this country: “In Hanoi, I met wonderful teachers and friends, realised my dream, and created an art stage with the participation of 100 dancers after 4 years with PV Dance Class. These will be the most memorable memories of my life.”

Street Jazz dance class specifically for Japanese students. (Photo: Duc Minh)

Naoko shared that her most memorable moment was seeing over 100 students standing on stage during the "Got the Moves vol.3" showcase. After years of maintaining the class amid post-COVID-19 challenges, she felt that her efforts had finally created a true community.

As one of the young dancers who has been with the class for over 3 years, Sakashita Hana shared: “Having loved music since childhood, I spend 1-2 hours a day listening and feeling the melodies through movements. I have lived in Hanoi for 12 years and am very happy to join Ms Vy's and Ms Naoko's dance class. Thanks to the class, I get to dance more, perform more, and pursue my dream.”

Sakashita Hana – student of the Street Jazz class. (Photo: Tuan Linh)

True to the motto “Dance is language, no matter where you are from”, PV Dance Class is not just a place to nurture passion; it has truly become a special meeting point - where language barriers are completely erased, connecting dance-loving souls through movement.

Amid the rhythm of an increasingly international Hanoi, classes like PV Dance Class are becoming a small but meaningful bridge, where foreigners can find a sense of belonging, and art becomes a common language that transcends all differences.

Japanese Prime Minister arrives in Hanoi, beginning official visit to Vietnam Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae arrived in Hanoi on the evening of May 1, starting her official visit to Vietnam from May 1–3 at the ...

Award ceremony for 'Vietnamese Language Ambassador in Japan' 2026 and opening of Vietnamese Class at Cay Tre School WVR - On May 17, at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka, the Award Ceremony for the "Vietnamese Language Ambassador in Japan" ...