Lifestyle - The Korea Times

First Korean Billy Elliots Are Finally Unveiled

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter All eyes were fixated on the small, baby-faced boys selected as Billy Elliot. They had gone through a four-phase audition process for the much-anticipated Asian premiere of "Billy Elliot." In a room packed with 400 foreign and local reporters and thespians, the four Billys were revealed to the public for the first time. The musical is the first non-English production of "Billy Elliot" in Asia and the fourth production in the world, following ones in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Praised as one of the decade's top-class sensational musicals, the production is set to create the biggest storm in the Korean performance scene this year. Based on the hit film of the same name, "Billy Elliot" revolves around the inspirational story of a boy who realizes his dream against all odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984-85 miners' strike, Billy pursues his dream to become a ballerino in secret although his struggling family opposes it. The award-winning musical was created by

Mar 3, 2010

An Intimate Opera Experience in Seoul

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Be ready to feel every pulsating rhythm and dramatic expression of Gluck arias on stage. The 12th Small Theater Opera Festival invites fans to enjoy the Seoul Opera Ensemble’s small but imaginative rendition of ``Orfeo & Euridice’’ at the National Theater of Korea, Thursday through Sunday. The opera festival has been credited for bringing rarely performed pieces to the small theaters, allowing room for experimentation while bridging the gap between the performers and audience ― both in terms of access with lower ticket prices and physical distance to the stage. The Korea National Opera will also be staging ``Orfeo & Euridice’’ at Tongyeong International Music Festival, March 19 and 20, and in Seoul in December, and opera lovers can look forward to comparing different interpretations of the piece. The opera, along with the late Mozart operas, is considered one of the most important 18th-century pieces. It reflects the transition from the Baroque to Classical style and focuses more on dramatic action rather than ornamentation and virtuosi

Mar 2, 2010

Feted Works of Pina Bausch to Be Staged

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Celebrated dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch may have left us last year after losing her battle with cancer, but her legacy and passion will continue this month through two of her masterpieces here in Seoul. Local fans will get to watch Bausch's ``Cafe Muller'' and ``Le Sacre du Printemps,'' two intense works that not only made the German choreographer famous, but also reestablished the definition of modern dance. The two pieces will be performed by the Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, one of the leading dance companies in the world. The 50-minute ``Cafe Muller'' is one of the few works where Bausch herself appeared on stage. The stage, a deserted cafe, is dark and dreary, with tables and old wooden chairs scattered around. With the gloomy aria from Henry Purcell's ``The Fairy Queen,'' three couples wander around as if they are sleepwalking. They repeat certain movements over and over again ― bumping into walls, throwing their bodies into the chairs and tables― as if they are struggling to escape from a trance. The sharp steps, s

Feb 28, 2010

Blossoming Flowers, Colors at Kukje Gallery

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Delicate drawings of blossoms by renowned French artist Louise Bourgeois and colorful works by rising Korean artist Park MeeNa are being unveiled at Kukje Gallery. The two artists have drastically different oeuvres, which makes for an exciting visit to the gallery, located in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno, downtown Seoul. ``Les Fleurs'' is an on-going exhibition of Bourgeois' 29 new drawings and three sculptures with the themes of nature, motherhood and women at the Kukje Gallery Space 2, located behind the main gallery. This is the French artist's fourth solo show with the gallery, the last one being in 2007. Bourgeois is known for her diverse works, ranging from huge spider sculptures, handsewn patchworks, dolls and installations. The title ``Les Fleurs'' refers to Bourgeois' choice of the flower and women as ``symbols of vitality, desire and sexuality.'' ``Her paintings painted in a bold, red color, illustrate passion, blood and a feminist belief in the power of women,'' organizers said. Bourgeois has always been drawing, sinc

Feb 26, 2010

Clubs, Art Exhibitions & Sports Games

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also to be found in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized crystal ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Club M2 Hongdae M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floor and the DJ are in the center of the club, which attracts a trendy crowd along with models and celebrities. Packed on the weekends. Check www.ohoo.net. Club Heaven Yeoksam-dong Located next to the Renaissance Seoul Hotel, Heaven is gaining a reputation as a clubber’s paradise with star DJs and a celebrity clientele. Electronic music is the main menu, with laser light and paper confetti shows aplenty on the side. The club caters to partying at any hour of the night: the “main stage” on the first floor is

Feb 25, 2010

Concerts, Museums and Theater

Classical Music I Love Rococo Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center Feb. 27 Seoul Arts Center presents a concert featuring the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra to support hearing impaired children. Conductor Kim Duk-gi, cellist Young Song, oboist Jeon Mi-young and pianist Park Hyeon-joo will also join the performance. The program includes Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture” and “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” Op.33. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit info.etland.co.kr or call 080-333-9933. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Spring Fantasy Series I Grand Hall, Chungmu Art Hall March 10 Chungmu Art Hall presents a concert for the new season with five star classical musicians, including violinists Lee Sung-ju and Yang Ko-woon, pianist Park Chong-hoon, cellist Patrick Jee and violist Kim Sang-jin. The concert will feature Schumann’s “Phantasiestuke” for Violin and Piano, Op. 73; and Quintet for Piano and Strings in E-flat major, Op. 44; and Chopin’s “Andante Spinato and Polonaise Brillante” for P

Feb 25, 2010

Weekender In Darkness There Is Light

Awareness Raising Exhibition Offers New Perspective By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter It's no secret that most people rely heavily on sight for perception. In different cultures across the world, vision-obscuring darkness has long worn a negative connotation - as a symbol of fear, ignorance and the unknown, and things ominous, morbid and evil. An uncanny globe-trotting exhibition from Germany, however, challenges the long-held bias against the dark. Dialogue in the Dark, now catering to curious crowds in Seoul, invites people to "switch off the sight, switch on the insight" by stepping into a world without light. Small groups of visitors are led through different settings ― walking along a busy city street, sitting down at a park bench, exploring an open-air market and even going on a boat ride ― in the pitch dark. Only a walking stick and a guide who's mastered the floor plan of the hall are there to help. In other words, it's an awareness raising project that enables participants to step into the shoes of the visually impaired. For this reporter it was one of th

Feb 25, 2010

Princess Hours Goes on Stage

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The 2006 popular TV drama "Princess Hours" originally based on a comic series by Park So-hee will be made into a musical in September. Set among a royal family in modern day Korea, the story revolves around the lives of the Crown Prince (Yi Shin) played by Joo Ji-hoon and his new bride, Chae-gyeong, performed by singer-turned-actress Yoon Eun-hye in the drama. It was a huge success and turned its two actors, Yoon and Joo, into household names. The drama also blended classical Korean hanbok (Korean traditional dress) and royal garments with a modern edge. The musical version had been planned even before the drama was created four years ago, according to Group 8, the drama production company renowed for "Boys Over Flowers." For the stage rendition, prominent producer Song Byung-joon and script writer In Eun-ah will collaborate again. The creative team will bring flamboyant stage sets, which will be visualized through digital devices to show off the dramatic effects and fantasies on stage. A variety of music genres from the traditional

Feb 23, 2010

Korean Culture, History Lectures for Foreigners

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Yeol Foundation, a non-profit, volunteer organization, has recently unveiled its 2010 lecture series on Korean culture and history for foreigners at the Seoul Museum of History in downtown Seoul. Since 2003, the organization has presented some of Korea's most prominent scholars, experts and intellectuals in the fields of Korean art, culture and history as lecturers. On the first Tuesday of every month ― except during the summer and winter holiday seasons (July, August and December) ― Korean culture enthusiasts gather in the seminar room of the museum to discover and experience new insights on Korean culture. This year's lectures will deal with architecture (hanok), ceramics, tea culture, the rise of women artists in the modern era and a British view on the Korean War 60 years later. This season's first lecture, "Seoul Story" by Hwang Doo-jin, an architect, will highlight Seoul's urban uniqueness in architecture on March 2. While Seoul is one of the largest megacities in the world, it can also be viewed as a city made up of sma

Feb 22, 2010

Jang Seeks to Clear Away Myths About Ballerinos

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter In the world of ballet, the spotlight is reserved for the dancers. Among them, however, it's mainly the graceful ballerinas who are applauded and recognized. Ballerinos (male ballet dancers) are often outshone by elegant dancers of the opposite sex. Jang Un-kyu, the principal male dancer of the Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) in Seoul, suffers from this viewpoint. Yet, he's one of the top dancers here, taking the torch from several other top ballerinos, including Kim Yong-geul and Lee Won-guk. The 33-year-old has been dancing for more than 20 years, and he has seen a difference in reactions and interest toward ballet and, especially, ballerinos. "When I first started, my friends made fun of me. They were so curious of what I was doing," Jang said, laughing, during an interview with The Korea Times. Jang started ballet in the third grade when his grandmother took him to dance class one day. He later found out that she was a dancer and actress herself when she was young, but had to give up her dream after marriage. "I think

Feb 21, 2010

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

First Korean Billy Elliots Are Finally Unveiled

An Intimate Opera Experience in Seoul

Feted Works of Pina Bausch to Be Staged

Blossoming Flowers, Colors at Kukje Gallery

Clubs, Art Exhibitions & Sports Games

Concerts, Museums and Theater

Weekender In Darkness There Is Light

Princess Hours Goes on Stage

Korean Culture, History Lectures for Foreigners

Jang Seeks to Clear Away Myths About Ballerinos

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