Dance Performance Fit for Family Month
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
May is known as family month here, and two dance companies are bringing filial love to the stage this month in Seoul.
The Myungsook Park Dance Theater is launching ``Emi,'' a performance about mothers.
``Emi is a work that uses `mother' as the main concept with theatrical elements. We also strived to bring Korean dance to the next level by using not only traditional codes in dance, but also in the costumes and settings,'' said the organizers through a press release.
Based on German poet Bertolt Brecht's poem ``Meiner Mutter,'' or ``My Mother,'' and making its first debut in 1996, ``Emi'' returns with more sophisticated movements and stage settings
The work revolves around an old mother who suffers from dementia and how she and her family cope with it.
``The traditional definition of `family' has disappeared as we went through industrialization, and so we have also lost the true meaning of filial piety. There are so many senior citizens who are lost, abandoned by their children and families,'' the organizers added.
By adding historical elements like war, traditional weddings, and poverty, the performance touches the essence of our mothers who suffered, yet strived to bring the best for their children.
``Emi'' will be on stage from May 29 to 30 at the Seoul Open Theater of Arts in northern Seoul. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 961-0398 or email scdc305@hanmail.net.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater, led by choreographer Lim Lee-jo, is staging ``Bari,'' the sad tale of a young princess who journeys to the heavens to save her father.
Bari is sent away from her home when the King finds out that she is yet another girl among six older sisters. But when the ill King finds that she is the one who can save his life by traveling to the heavens, he calls her back, pleading for his life.
The story takes a turn when Bari returns to her father and finds that she is too late ― he has already passed away. Sad and disappointed, Bari performs a special revival dance and touched by her love and devotion, the heavens brings back the King to life.
Visitors will have the chance to enjoy the delicate traditional movements along with the grand music performed by the Seoul Metropolitan Youth Traditional Music Orchestra. Traditional performances normally do not offer live music played by the orchestra, but ``Bari'' will offer it complete with dance.
With some of the best artists participating, including playwright Bae Sam-sik, producer of the hit musical ``The Last Empress'' Yu Hee-sung, one of the best known musical producers here, and the glamorous and graceful movements of the troupe, ``Bari'' will present a heartwarming tale of love and sacrifice.
The performance will take place at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from May 22 to 23. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, visit www.sejongpac.or,kr or call (02) 399-1114.