Dancers Get Together to Commemorate Critic
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The Arko Arts Center and the Kim Young-tai Commemoration Foundation are holding a special performance, ``My Muses,'' to commemorate the anniversary of famed dance critic Kim Young-tai's death.
Kim, born 1936 in Seoul and a graduate of Hongik University majoring in painting, was a talented poet, writer, artist and dance critic. With his vast knowledge of dance and keen eye for discovering new talent, he worked as a judge at numerous dance competitions, including the Dong-a Dance Competition and the Universal-Kirov Ballet Concours.
The performance is in recognition of Kim's achievements, especially in the field of dance. It will be held at Arko Arts Theater, where the late critic even had his own favorite seat, Section-Ga Row-L Seat No. 11.
The event will indeed be meaningful, for many prominent dancers, or Kim's ``muses,'' who all inspired the late critic, will participate.
Kim Ji-young, principal dancer at the Dutch National Ballet, will start the performance by reciting two of Kim's poems, ``My Muses'' and ``Aster.''
Korea National Ballet's principal dancer Jang Hyun-soo will continue by performing ``Tears Running Down,'' a piece that was made based on Kim's poem of the same title. This particular work was once staged after Kim's death at the Chuncheon Art Festival, but due to heavy rain, it was never finished. Now fans will be able to watch the new polished version.
``Broken Vow'' is dedicated to Kim based on the story of his tutor-student relationship with ballerina Huh In-jung. This particular stage will be the premier of the work, choreographed by Heo Yong-soon from Germany's Dusseldorf Ballet and performed by Huh herself.
Korean dance troupe UBIN Dance's Lee Yong-in, who was praised by Kim for his focus and movements, will offer ``Summer'' with fellow dancer Chung Hyeung-il.
The foundation has also prepared an exhibition displaying the late Kim's artworks at Arko Arts Center's lobby.
For tickets call (02) 2263-4680 or visit https://blog.naver.com/mctdance.