By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Kim Bock-hee, the chairwoman of the Dance Association of Korea, is in her 60s, but she still believes that creating new works is what defines a dancer and choreographer.
``I love when I'm finished choreographing and we start to rehearse. When the work goes up on stage, there's nothing I can do, but when we are rehearsing it's like growing a plant. The process is a wonderful experience, even after all these years,'' she told The Korea Times during an interview Monday at the association in Jongno, central Seoul.
The 61-year-old Kim is in charge of this year's Korean Grand Prize for Dance judging panel, an annual event that started last year.
``It was difficult to bring dancers together and that was the main reason I thought we needed an event where all the dancers could get together and celebrate what they do and love,'' she said.
As a judge and dancer herself, she spoke about the most important factor in the art form.
``I focus on how well the theme is projected through the movements. The audience needs to understand the work, instead of leaving the performance with questions. Abstract works can add variety, but it may be too difficult for the viewers to enjoy. I try to judge as an artist, and also as a member of the audience,'' she said.
An interesting feature of the ceremony is that all 10 of the competing works will be performed live before the judges and audience, a rare chance to watch creative works that were staged this year at a single venue.
Kim and fellow veteran dancers are also preparing a special treat for dance fans and aspiring dancers.
``There are not many older dancers who still stand on stage these days. There are a couple of respectable masters in traditional dance, but in modern dance they are very hard to find. I'm not as flexible as I used to be, but it feels good that I can still stand on stage with my students and younger dancers,'' she said, her face lighting up.
Along with Kim, traditional dancers and producers Kook Su-ho and Jina Bae and modern dancer Lee Jung-hee will perform their works at the event.
As one of the leading figures on Korea's dance scene, Kim expressed her worries regarding the industry, citing the need for better performance venues and smaller productions.
``Plays and musicals go on for weeks, and even month. But dance performances only get a couple of days. We need to give time for the audience to understand and appreciate dance and the best way is to have proper and inexpensive performance venues,'' she said.
Many performances these days boast bigger budgets, which include lighting, sets, stage props, and extra dancers and performers. This would be a good way to attract fans, but people tend to forget what they came for.
``Dancers, producers and choreographers need to work on the dance, not other fancy attractions,'' Kim said.
Last year, the creative ballet work ``Arang'' won the Grand Prize at the ceremony, and it has prompted many ballet troupes to perform new works with a traditional twist. Ever since, various troupes have combined traditional costumes, stories and themes to their works, and, according to Kim, this has been a bright sign that the Korean dance industry has potential.
``The best way to attract the world is to show them Korean elements. I'm not saying that ballerinas have to dance like Korean traditional dancers. The themes and traits of our past are not the only Korean elements. The time we live in now is also Korean. We have our own culture, even today,'' she said, adding that it would be meaningless to compete with foreign troupes by dancing ``Swan Lake.''
``It would be great if we could work on bringing Korean dance, both traditional and modern, into an internationally renowned art form, like Argentina's tango,'' she added.
The Korean Grand Prize for Dance will be held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 at Arko Arts Center. The final award ceremony will be held Dec. 7 at Hotel Shilla. For more information, visit www.dancekorea.org.