By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Two interesting dance events will entertain fans this coming spring: the Seoul International Improvisation Dance Festival 2009 and ``The Fisherman's Calendar.''
Celebrating its ninth year as the only improvisation dance event in Asia, the International Improvisation Dance Festival will bring impromptu movements, ideas and techniques to the stage. Unlike other conventional performances, improvisation works are about freedom and creativity, as the dancers don't have to follow a script or pre-planned choreography.
``Improvisation is the most important method during the dance composing process because it is a work from the unconsciousness. The free gestures will stimulate not just dancers but also the audience,'' the artistic director Kwan Ryul-jang said in a press release.
The event aims to discover talented newcomers, offer innovative dancers the chance to show off their moves and, most importantly, share the energy and joy of movement with the public.
This year, the festival committee has invited many creative artists from around the world, including dancers and choreographers Paulina Mellado from Chile, Sylvain Meret from France and Makoto Matsushima from Japan.
The six-day event will start with its ``Improvisation JAM'' session, where anyone can join in and dance along to the blaring music. At the ``Crossover Improvisation'' session, jazz group Prelude will join the G Dance Company and hype up the atmosphere with jazzy tunes.
The schedule also includes open and crossover improvisation sessions, along with workshops for both children and adults.
Workshops will be held every day during the festival, offering tips of improvisation dance for everyone.
On April 9, 10 dancers will perform the ``120 Minute Relay Improvisation'' and present an energetic display.
The Seoul International Improvisation Dance Festival will be held from April 4 to 11 at the Arko Arts Theater in Jongno. Tickets for performances and workshops are 20,000 won. For more information, visit www.improvisation.co.kr or call (02) 3674-2210.
Meanwhile, the Korea Ballet House, led by choreographer Suh Jung-ja, will bring a unique ballet piece ``The Fisherman's Calendar.'' Based on the Korean verse style known as ``sijo'' by Yun Son-do (1587-1671), the work will combine ballet with traditional elements such as ``chang,'' or Korean traditional vocal music, and ancient calligraphy known as ``seoye.''
``The work will present the life of Yun through his sijo, which takes place during the four seasons. The settings will be dramatic with the use of special effects projecting traditional calligraphy and images,'' the troupe explained.
``The Fisherman's Calendar'' starts with the appearance of the young Yun, who is adopted by a rich household. He grows up to become a smart young man, and becomes the prince's teacher. Jealous of his knowledge and success, other officials carry out plots to send him to prison. The corrupted Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) goes through difficult times as Japan and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) invade the country, and the worried Yun makes an appeal to the king regarding the corruption within the palace walls. Nothing changes and the disappointed Yun leaves the palace and restarts his life at the seaside, befriending fishermen and writing poems, including ``The Fisherman's Calendar,'' which he composes for them. The palace officials continue to frame him until he is finally sent into exile, where he lives a miserable life. Returning to his hometown, Yun shares his fortune with fellow neighbors and ends his life peacefully and respectfully.
Viewers will have the chance to watch the writer's life unfold through elegant ballet moves put together with traditional music and images.
``The Fisherman's Calendar'' will be on stage at the National Theater of Korea March 28 and 29. Tickets cost 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 588-8112.