By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The Seoul section of the International Dance Council CID UNESCO will explore the world of Caribbean dance with ``Korean Dances Meet Caribbean Music'' this week at Arko Arts Theater.
The international dance project began in 1998 with the music of Spain, and after featuring other countries like Finland, Greece, Japan and even Brazil, the project will finally spotlight the Caribbean.
The organizers explained that the event would be the perfect chance for the local public to explore Caribbean culture.
``Although we live in what people call a global world, we still lack interest in cultures of other countries. In the case of artists, it is difficult for them to bring out universal sympathy without interacting with one another. We are looking into bringing in various cultures and mixing them with what we know best: Korean dance,'' the organizers said in a press release.
A total of six dancers will offer their works using Caribbean music, with some offering a hint of ballet, while others incorporate Korean traditional dance and contemporary forms.
The project is aimed at bringing various types of Caribbean music to the local audience, where reggae is already well known and popular. Visitors will have the chance to explore the world of merengue, bachata, and calypso, among others, along with the creative dance works.
Local reggae and soul band Windy City worked as musical consultants for the event. The four-member group has garnered fans with its distinctive tunes and lyrics and were the winners of the Best R&B Soul Record of the Year at the Korean Music Awards in 2006 for their debut album, ``Love Record.''
``Windy City reinterprets various types of soul music easily found in the Caribbean, including salsa, reggae, rock steady, dub and heavy funk and is expected to bring their flair to the project,'' said organizers.
The band has collaborated with various artists in the past, but this is their first time working with dance troupes. As a special treat, the group will hold a mini performance at the lobby of the Arko Arts Theater on July 22.
Park Hae-jun, the art director of Park Hae-jun Contemporary Dance, will present ``Dancing Papa,'' a work depicting the difficult lives of Korean fathers. Park incorporated the cha-cha-cha, a type of Cuban dance music, as accompaniment.
Lee Yun-jung, the head of Group Barugi, will offer her dance ``A Train to Havana: A Musical Trio for Six,'' while Choi Jin-han will present ``Day, Day O,'' which is based on a Caribbean working song.
Contemporary ballet dancer Yang Eun-ju will use the music of Ruben Gonzales, a member of the Buena Vista Social Club, for her unique ballet piece, ``Their Paradise.
Explore the ``wave'' of Caribbean music through Lee Sun-ah's ``Wave'' and finally, enjoy the exciting rhumba and merengue rhythms accompanying Korean traditional movements with Han Jung-mi's ``Road, Meeting You, Meeting Me.''
``Korean Dances Meet Caribbean Music'' will take place at the Arko Arts Theater July 22 and 25. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 760-4840 or visit www.ticketlink.co.kr.