Contemporary Dance Fests Abound in June
By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter
Contemporary dance fans in Seoul have two guaranteed events to look forward to each year: The International Modern Dance Festival (MODAFE) in early summer, and the Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance) in early autumn.
This year, the early summer season has been bustling with particularly diverse options, providing a feast for contemporary dance fans. Starting with troupes from around the world included in the inaugural Springwave Festival program, the LG Arts Center offers performances from Europe such as Alain Platel's ``VSPRS,'' set for this weekend, and Nacho Duato and Tomaz Pandur's ``Alas'' (Wings) to be staged on June 6-8.
There is also the 7th Seoul International Improvisation Dance Festival, which kicks off this Friday. The festival, to which 50 dancers from seven countries are invited, will mainly take place at the Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno and M Theater in southern Seoul. But several workshops and an outdoor improvisation performance in Marronnier Park in Daehangno are also scheduled, featuring Amsterdam-based Magpie Music Dance Company. Visit www.improvisation.co.kr for more information.
A more wide-ranging and established event is also lined up, namely the 26th MODAFE on June 1-12. Under the title ``Dance Vista _ Body, Philosophy, Movement, Live,'' the festival will feature 21 works from South Korea as well as Japan, France, Canada, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Opening piece ``Poussiere de Soleils'' (Sun's Dust), a work by Josef Nadj, director of the Orleans National Choreographic Center in France, will be on stage at the Arko Arts Theater on June 1 and 2. During the 80 minutes featuring masks and queer dress, the piece explores the philosophical meaning of the body as well as the life of French writer Raymond Roussel, whose 1926 play provided the title for the dance piece.
There are also inter-country cooperation productions, such as South Korea's and France's ``Memory Cell,'' South Korea's and Japan's ``Don't (with Shadow),'' and South Korea's and the U.S.'s ``Dreaming Bodies.''
For more information, visit www.modafe.org.