Int’l Choreography Fest to Start
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The wind is getting chillier by the minute, but for dance fans, November will be heated up with dance festivals and traditional performances.
The 2008 Seoul International Choreography Festival will be held at the Arko Arts Center Nov. 13 and 15.
Originally a local event with only Korean choreographers attending, the festival has transformed into an Asian festival with Japanese artists joining in to present their work to the Korean public.
The two-day event will start with Japanese choreographer Kayuki Ohashi's ``Black Dog,'' followed by Korean artists Ryu Suk-hun, Kim Jae-duk and Japanese artist Miho Konai. On the second day, the works of Korean artists Huh Kyung-mi, Lee In-su and Shin Dong-hyun and also Japanese choreographer JOU will be on display.
Aiming to become the world's best festival for choreographers, the event will offer the most unique and exquisite works of upcoming and established artists.
All tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information call (02) 325-5702 or send an email to dance98@unitel.co.kr (Korean)
The Korea Contemporary Dance Theater, one of the nation's first modern dance troupes, is presenting Next Wave Dance Festival Korea 2008, which will also celebrate the event's 10th anniversary, Nov. 27-29. Also held at the Arko Arts Center, the two-day event will bring experimental works by noted choreographers and dancers from Korea, Canada and the Netherlands.
Choreographer Jeong Jeong-ah from Canadian troupe Suddenly Dance Theater will start the festival with ``Swallowed and Swallowed.'' Cha Jin-yeop will join Edan Gorlicki from Galili Dance and bring ``Mum,'' while local choreographers like Ryu Suk-hun, Park Sun-ho and Kim Sung-yong will also present their works.
Canadian choreographer David Ferguson will join Jeong Jeong-ah with ``Garden for Birds'' and offer clashes, confusion and fusion all in one piece.
Most of the works are shorter than 30 minutes, the longest being 20 and the shortest being only seven.
All tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information call (02) 325-5704 or send email dance98@unitel.co.kr.
Brush off the sleek and modern dance moves with traditional performances such as the Kim Un-mi KUM Dance Company's ``Coexistence: 2008 Like Everyone Else'' and Daejeon Metropolitan Dance Theater (DMDT)'s ``Dance Mago.''
``Coexistence'' is an omnibus performance about beauty. Instead of focusing on beauty itself, the work will explore how people feel neglected and lonely these days through the concept.
The KUM Dance Company is famous for its interpretations of women' identities and their arduous journeys throughout history, which they will share through this work as well.
Tickets for ``Coexistence'' cost from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. The show will be held at the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts Nov. 13. For more information, call (02) 2220-1319 (Korean).
``Dance Mago'' is based on Korea's traditional myth ``Mago Granny.'' The performance will show the creation of Earth as Mago Granny wakes up from her sleep. People rejoice as she creates the world, while the show continues with striking settings, lighting and dancing.
The DMDT has arranged beautiful traditional elements, offering an illusionary experience with costumes and music.
Tickets for ``Mago'' cost from 5,000 won to 20,000 won and will be held at Daejeon Cultural Arts Center Nov. 14. For more information, visit www.dmdt.or.kr or call (042) 610- 2285.