German and French choreographers have collaborated with nine dancers and two musicians in Hanoi to create a dance and theater performance slated to be held in the capital city on February 25.

The show will travel to HCMC two days later.

Nhieu mat (Faces) was created in 2008 by CCF Hanoi, the Goethe Institute (the German cultural institute) and L’Espace (the French cultural institute).

The Goethe Institute is staging a revival of Nhieu mat, which melds traditional forms of modern music and dance. Following the performances in Vietnam, the show will continue on to Paris and Berlin.

The German cultural institute’s website claims that the show challenges audience members to consider whether there are many ways to preserve traditional customs and pass them on to young people.

“The dancers’ masks raise questions about modern-day society,” a representative from the Goethe Institute told Heritage magazine. “Do people wear so many different masks that, in the end, they are afraid to see their real faces?”

Nhieu mat will be performed at Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theater, 11 Ngo Thi Nham Street, Hanoi at 8 p.m. (on February 25) and Ben Thanh Theater, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1 (on February 27).

Tickets are free and can be obtained starting at 10 a.m. on February 21 at the Goethe-Institut Hanoi, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, and from 9 a.m. on February 22 at the Goethe-Institut HCMC, 18 Street No. 1, District 3.