Disconnect to reconnect: Contemporary dance ‘OO-LI’ to explore identity
Feeling overwhelmed by fast-paced, hyperconnected life in the sweltering summer heat? A new contemporary dance performance, “Haeni, Mr. Kriss on Sync Next 25,” at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts invites you to pause, disconnect and reconnect — not through meditation, but through movement.
Also titled “OO-LI” — meaning “we” in Korean — the performance brings together 30 dancers to represent two individuals seeking to understand themselves and communicate with one another. Each “individual” is symbolized by a group of 15 dancers, who come together in a 60-minute work composed of a series of abstract scenes.
Audiences can expect a fusion of breakdance, hip-hop and other movement styles, set to a rich soundscape blending neo-classical and electronic compositions by Olafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm, as well as live ambient music by Korean musician Mohani.
“I hope people can feel something deeply in their hearts, even if they don’t put it into words,” choreographer and team leader Kim Hae-ni said at a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. “Through this performance, I wish each person can meet their own inner world in a meaningful way.”
Another team leader, Kristian Mensa, who goes by artistic name Mr. Kriss, is a breakdancer and visual artist from Prague.
“We hope the audience can forget everything else for an hour and just be immersed in a universe of music, simplicity and people moving together. What happens here will register in the heart and the body,” Mr. Kriss said.
Breakdancer Mr. Kriss, center, talks about the upcoming performance "OO-LI" through an interpreter, left, during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. On the right is choreographer Kim Hae-ni, another team leader. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
The performance is part of Sync Next 25, an ongoing series by the Sejong Center that showcases contemporary works across genres and media. Launched in 2021, the initiative supports experimental collaborations among artists working at the intersection of tradition and innovation.
Kim, whose background is in ballet, has worked as a movement director for K-pop girl group aespa and was invited to choreograph for Usher’s 2024 “Past, Present, Future” tour.
An interesting aspect of “OO-LI” is the intentional diversity of its cast. Kim and Mr. Kriss selected 28 of the 30 dancers through an open audition.
“We have dancers from all kinds of backgrounds — hip-hop, breaking and even theater,” Kim explained, adding that the diversity is expected to add depth and texture to the performance.
Mr. Kriss noted, “It’s meaningful because many cultures are meeting in one performance. For me, this is the ultimate way to solve the world’s problems — by connecting cultures and people.”
This spirit of collaboration and genre-crossing is a hallmark of the Sync Next 25 series. This year's program opened with a trio performance featuring ambient musician Lucid Fall; Jung Marie, a vocal artist blending jeongga (traditional Korean vocal music) with Gregorian chant; and installation artist Boo Ji-hyun, known for works inspired by the sea around Jeju Island.
“OO-LI” will be performed from Aug. 14 to 16 at the Sejong Center's S Theater. For tickets and more information, visit the Sejong Center’s official website.