Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
INTERVIEW Sejong Center's 'One Dance' mesmerizes New Yorkers
Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts / Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Sejong Center CEO talks about giving modern twist to old traditions
By Kwak Yeon-soo
When watching the performance of “One Dance,” created by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, one is truly mesmerized by the ability of the dancers to perform elaborate choreography while being perfectly in sync with each other.
In July, the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater (SMDT), one of the nine resident companies at Sejong Center, wowed New York's performing arts scene by presenting “One Dance,” or “Ilmu” in Korean, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts during Korean Arts Week.
“One Dance,” which debuted in May last year, is a contemporary reinterpretation of the Korean traditional dance from “Jongmyo Jeryeak,” a royal ceremonial performance that combines instrumental music, singing and dancing.
Sejong Center CEO Ahn Ho-sang appointed Jung Ku-ho, a creative director who has made a name for himself in fashion and the arts, to guide the overall direction of “One Dance.” As a result, his vision to modernize traditional Korean aesthetics became a reality.
“The SMDT's One Dance performance was nothing short of breathtaking,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times at Sejong Center, Wednesday. “The American audience sitting next to me kept saying 'Oh my God.' I think the way dancers perform in unison, the stunning mise-en-scene and the increasing tempo that builds to a thrilling crescendo resonated with the audience.”
Ahn began his career in arts management as the head of the administrative team at the Seoul Arts Center (SAC). He then served as the head of the Seoul Foundation of Art and Culture (SFAC) and the National Theater of Korea (NTOK).
The CEO described how his mission in the workplace has changed over time following the rise of Korean culture.
“Some 20 years ago when I was working at SAC, I took overseas trips to invite popular orchestras and theater groups to Korea. A few years later when I moved to NTOK, I started reaching out to foreign artistic directors or production staff to join our theater projects. The National Dance Company of Korea, which had been based on Korean dance, worked closely with Finnish choreographer Tero Saarinen to bring 'Vortex (Haeori)' to life. It was phenomenal at the Cannes Dance Festival. For over decades, I could definitely feel the rise of Korean culture,” he said.
The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater performs its theatrical production “One Dance” at Lincoln Center in New York, July 20. Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Ahn said “One Dance” is a celebration of Korea's growing global cultural influence.
“I visited Paris and London in October last year. Due to the tight schedule, I requested urgent meetings with artistic directors of renowned theaters. To my surprise, they were all willing to meet me at short notice thanks to the Korean content's popularity led by 'Parasite,' BTS and 'Squid Game.' K-pop went global in the early 2010s, but artists and cultural leaders weren't aware of it until recently,” he said.
Ahn noted that Koreans have a great passion for their own culture, which leads to a vibrant and sustainable art scene. “Koreans have a deep appreciation of their own culture, which enables us to see our culture's unique perspectives,” he said.
When Ahn began his three-year term as the CEO of Sejong Center in October 2021, he had two things in mind.
The first was to increase the number of quality performances from companies in residence. The Sejong Center is home to the SMDT, Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra, the Seoul Metropolitan Chorus, the Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theater, the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, the Seoul Youth Orchestra, Seoul Metropolitan Junior Chorus and Seoul Metropolitan Youth Traditional Music Ensemble.
The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater performs its theatrical production “One Dance” at Lincoln Center in New York, July 20. Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
This year, Sejong Center will present 28 different performances that will stage a total of 251 shows. The 28 performances include 16 well-received repertories from last year and 12 new productions. Of the 28 works, 23 works will be performed by Sejong Center's resident companies.
Secondly, Ahn aimed to infuse a contemporary spin into traditional performances. His goal was to transform this often-overlooked genre into the heart of the performing arts scene in Korea.
“I believe it is essential to put a contemporary spin on traditional performances to make them more appealing to modern-day audiences. For instance, 'changgeuk,' or traditional Korean opera featuring 'pansori,' was a form of public entertainment when it was introduced in the early 20th century. It was only a matter of time before people started calling it traditional and old,” he added.
Ahn said the cultural complex saw an explosive demand for performances when the pandemic waned and Gwanghwamun Square reopened in November last year.
“Although we have been on hiatus during the pandemic, we weren't completely shut down. So it was easier to return to normalcy. We aim to reach a broader audience by presenting genre-bending, experimental performances,” he said.
The CEO also mapped out plans to renovate Sejong Center by 2028. The plans include establishing a new 1,800-seat classical concert hall and building the second Sejong Center in Yeouido, southwestern Seoul.
“The two venues may complement each other as they serve different purposes. The traditional performing arts can be found in Gwanghwamun whereas the modern genre can be found in Yeouido,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Sejong Summer Festival will be held under the theme, Groove, from Aug. 11 to Sept. 9. This is the first outdoor event organized by Sejong Center in four years and the first since the pandemic.