10th Anniversary of Normalization

Press Release

April 05, 2005

U.S. hip-hop group HaviKoro to perform in Hanoi (April 12) and Ho Chi Minh city (April 14)

(The tour is one of many activities in 2005 to celebrate 10 years of U.S.-Vietnam relations)

The U.S. Embassy-Hanoi and the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture and Information are jointly sponsoring an American hip-hop breakdance world champion group, HaviKoro, to perform in Hanoi (April 12) and Ho Chi Minh city (April 14). Their shows will be part of joint U.S.-Vietnam activities to celebrate ten years of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations as well as aiming to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries' young people. Kinh Do Bakery is the sponsor of this program. Other contributors include A My Film Company, Johnson & Johnson and Sheraton Hanoi Hotel.

HaviKoro's main activities while on tour in Hanoi include:

- April 11, 18:00-20:00: Student workshop with other hip-hop break-dance groups like Big Toe, Zig Zag, Escape...

- April 12: "HaviKoro Night" performance at Giang Vo exhibition center, with participation by well-known Vietnamese singers and break-dance groups like Ho Quynh Huong and Kasim Hoang Vu, Big Toe, Zig Zag, Escape, Z, etc, and will be emceed by Mr. Anh Tuan of VTV3.

The group will also have a similar program in Ho Chi Minh city on April 13 & 14, supported by the same sponsor and contributors.

HaviKoro members include: Mr. Christopher Omar Gamez, Mr. Jose Luis Hernandez, Mr. Joel Phillip Martinez, Mr. Mario Jaramillo, and Mr. Moises Rivas.

HaviKoro started out as a Houston-based hip hop/house crew and has gained experience in several forms of dance such as break dancing, popping and funk. HaviKoro has toured all over the world including Helsinki, Moscow, Paris, Frankfurt, Hannover, Tokyo, Seoul, New Zealand, London, Zurich, Baku, and throughout the U.S. They have also shared the stage with artists and associations such as Destiny’s Child, Common, Limp Bizkit, Biz Markie, Coolio, Black Eyed Peas, Tre9, P.O.D., Geno V, Soulfruit, Tony Touch, Planet Funk, and sports teams such as The Houston Rockets and The Houston Comets. For the past five years, members of HaviKoro have been Hip Hop instructors with the Houston Independent School District. HaviKoro was recently sponsored by a San Diego clothing company, Tribal Grear along with major artists such as Tony Touch, P.O.D. and Limp Bizkit.

Upcoming tours with HaviKoro in 2005 include Vietnam and SouthEast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

For more information about the group and their shows in Vietnam, please visit the U.S. Embassy website http://vietnam.usembassy.gov.