By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
``Forever Tango,'' one of the most famous tango shows in the world, is coming to Seoul this month.
Korea has welcomed a number of tango shows in the past couple of years. Some wowed fans, others disappointed. With the local audience experiencing more and more theater over the years, they now have a more critical perspective in terms of the content, movement and overall quality.
Thanks to praise from noted critics and media, ``Forever Tango,'' created by famed Argentinean producer Luis Bravo, is expected to surpass the quality of shows before it with its spectacular movements, emotional music performed live by veteran artists and its Argentinean charms.
Lauded by Newsweek and The New York Times, the ``Forever Tango'' team first visited Korea 11 years ago at Seoul Arts Center, wowing the audience with their dynamic moves and charisma. The performance was a sell-out. Touched by the local audience's enthusiasm, the team has revisited four times since then.
The show's introduction of Argentina's dance form brought a fever among dance fans here and abroad, touring around the United States and Europe. First appearing in San Francisco, it ran for 92 weeks there and moved to Broadway in 1997, where it ran for over a year. In 1997, it was nominated for Best Choreography by the Tony Awards.
The word "tango" originates from the Latin word ``tangure,'' which means ``to touch.'' The hands, the shoulders, the legs, the chests and even the cheeks touch those of the partner, flowing swiftly to the music and yet still managing to stay perfectly calm. It's more than just the fiery atmosphere; it's the sudden sharp kicks and intense gaze the couples exchange with each other: yearning, yet staying a step away. Some tango performances fail to recognize the concept of ``less is more.'' They tend to focus too much on the appearance: the too dark or intense lightings; overly sexy, high-cut tango dresses; and elaborate stage settings. But for ``Forever Tango,'' it's about the people: the dancers and musicians.
The intense gaze is the most distinctive and charismatic feature of tango, which goes well with the colorful yet sad tunes of the bandoneon ― an accordion-style Argentinean instrument.
``Forever Tango'' features seven couples that will offer seven different stories for the audience. The couples will express various feelings of sadness, love, passion, loneliness and romance through their subtle movements.
While the male dancers move in sleek black tuxedos with matching ties, fedoras and shiny black shoes, the female dancers show off their sexiness and charisma in tight, bright- colored dresses. The feminine outfits not only make a statement themselves, but allow the dancers to accentuate their curves and movements.
``The clothes and accessories are not only interesting to watch, but they are important tools that lift the quality of the whole dance form,'' the organizer Nine Factory said through a statement.
One of the most impressive and important features of ``Forever Tango'' is the music. Already a popular genre in the world, tango music can be found in various original soundtracks, films and commercials.
Korean music-lovers have also recognized its flair, with many filmmakers, drama producers and commercial directors using the music in their works. ``Forever Tango'' released three original soundtrack albums from the show, proving that the dance is rarely complete without a beat. The first album, ``Forever Tango Original Soundtrack,'' is one of the best-selling Latin albums in the world.
At the local show, the 72-year-old concertmaster and bandoneon player Victor Lavallen will lead the 11-member tango band for the two-hour show.
``It's a treat to just watch the veteran musicians playing on stage. You can truly feel their love and passion toward tango through their music,'' an organizer told The Korea Times.
Tango lovers will get to listen to famous tunes such as ``Adios Nonino,'' ``Liberatango,'' ``La Cumparsita'' and ``Gallo Ciego.''
``Forever Tango'' will be staged at Chungmu Art Hall through March 28. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, visit https://ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.