By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter
The annual Seongnam Dance Festival will kick off Sept. 5 at Seongnam Arts Center and other areas south of Seoul such as Mt. Namhan Fortress, Tancheon, and various parks in Seongnam.
The five-day event, the second of its kind, features dance acts from Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Israel, and Greece, as well as 20 local ones, this year.
Dance fans will welcome this rare opportunity to meet dance acts from the Mediterranean region, which is often hailed as the birthplace of the world's culture, in the opening gala with various dance acts including South Korea's belly dance and Spain's flamenco.
From Israel, a country known for its reputed contemporary dance groups, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company brings ``Upon Reaching the Sun'' to the stage at Seongnam Arts Center Sept. 8. It is the first time that the piece will be staged in Asia. Set against a variety of cultural music forms, ranging from rock to tango, the production featuring unique lighting, stage design and dance moves, will likely fascinate audiences for about 70 minutes.