Lifestyle - The Korea Times

TODES to Greet Fans at Walkerhill Theater

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Walkerhill Theater brings the exhilarating dance performance ``Todes'' for an open run starting this month. Todes is the name of a popular dance show from Russia, and also the troupe that performs it. Formed in 1986 by noted Russian choreographer and producer Alla Duhova, the famous dance work is being performed in Korea for the first time. The distinctive feature of the performance is that it is a combined work of break dancing and ballet. At the age of 19, Duhova managed to unite two dance groups into one: male break-dancers from St. Petersburg and ballerinas from her hometown of Riga in Latvia. After numerous tryouts, the first collaboration started in 1987 and since then, the unique dance form was known as the TODES ballet, and has since traveled around the world. TODES starts with an ensemble of ballerinas dressed in white, dancing to the elegant melodies from the ballet ``Swan Lake.'' Suddenly, the male dancers dressed in black surprise the audience with a powerful hip-hop dance number. A total of 17 different dance forms will

Jun 14, 2009

Gautiers Sculptures at Opera Gallery

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter French sculptor Marie Madeleine Gautier's smooth, rounded sculptures at the Opera Gallery Seoul appear to be a celebration of the female form. But the works, characterized by tiny heads, elongated torsos and voluptuous hips and legs, are not meant to convey any ideological feminist concepts. In an interview with The Korea Times at the gallery Monday, Gautier said she is more interested in the idea of contradictions. ``I wanted to make the head as small as possible, and the legs and hips as big as possible. I'm interested in the contradiction between the small head, long arms with the legs that are very big and firm. This kind of disproportion is not usually thought of as beautiful, but in the sculptures, you can see it can also be beautiful. The focus is not the woman. The woman is just the language. What I want to convey is harmony,'' she said. Gautier was in Seoul for the opening of the ``Love Me Tender'' exhibition at Opera Gallery, Cheongdam-dong. She has been making art since she was three years old. Born in 1956,

Jun 12, 2009

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Clubs The Circle Cheongdam-dong Located in the upscale Cheongdam-dong neighborhood, it's notorious for turning you down unless you're dressed chic and sleek. Faithful to its name, it has a round revolving floor ― looking for your ``lost'' table gives clubbers the perfect excuse to sit down with a sexy stranger. Located on Dosan-daero near Hak-dong intersection. Call (02) 546-5933 or visit www.thecircle.co.kr. Club Answer Cheongdam-dong This might be the answer to your nightlife. It offers an intimate partying environment with groovy electronic music by star DJs. You can reserve tables and those on the second floor provide an open view of the dance floor. Or mingling with the hot bartenders at the open bar might be a fine alternative. Located in Cheongdam-dong across the street from Prima Hotel, near the entrance toi Yeongdong-daegyo. Call (02) 548-7115 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr. Club Evans Hongdae or Hongik University Area This club, located near Hongik University, is great for intimate live performances. The line-up of performers is generally top-notch and

Jun 11, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Kim Jung-eun Piano Recital Hoam Art Hall June 20 Pianist Kim Jung-eun will deliver various works of Beethoven, Liszt and Brahms. Tickets are 30,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02)751-9606~10. Located near exit 9 of City Hall station on subway line 1 and 2. Hajime Mizoguchi Concert KEPCO Art Center June 26 Japanese cellist Hajime Mizoguchi visits for a performance of various songs from his new album, ``Yours; Classic.'' Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 749-5915. Located near exit 1 of Yangjae Station on subway line 3. Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet Seongnam Arts Center June 23 Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet celebrates its 30th anniversary. The program includes Bach's ``Concerto in D Minor After Vivaldi's Op 3, No. 11 & BWV 596,'' Tarquinio Merula's ``Canzon La Lusignuola'' and Stevie Wonder's ``When Shall My Sorrowful Sunshine Slack.'' Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or ca

Jun 11, 2009

Foreign Musicals Dominate Local Scene

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter ``There's No Business Like Show Business,'' an Irving Berlin song written for the musical ``Annie Get Your Gun,'' is a salute to the glamour and excitement of a life in show business. It's not all about profitable success, but also the artistic passion of the creators. But recently, the phrase seems to have lose its shine at least in the local musical industry, which is leaning toward commercial accomplishment rather than artistic endeavors. In recent years, foreign licensed musicals such as ``Cats,'' ``My Fair Lady'' and ``Mamma Mia!'' have hit the stage on large theaters and at the same time reigned at the top of box offices and graced actors' and producers' resumes. More high-profile musicals, such as the multi-Tony award winning ``Billy Elliot,'' and ``Spring Awakening,'' are waiting for their upcoming local debuts. Also, the U.S.-Korean joint production, ``Dreamgirls'' has escalated the local musical production capacity level to international standards, receiving rave reviews both from at home and abroad for its high-tech stage

Jun 10, 2009

East Meets West in UBC Ballet Chun-hyang

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Ballet may have started in Europe, but Hwang Hye-min, the principal dancer of the Universal Ballet Company (UBC), hopes for the day when foreign dancers will appear on stage dressed in hanbok. ``Ballet is known as a Western art form, but we thought it would be interesting to incorporate Asian elements through `The Love of Chun-hyang.' Who knows? Blue eyed dancers may wear hanbok and portray the love story of Chun-hyang some day in the future,'' Hwang said, referring to the classic love story of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) transformed into a ballet piece to be staged this month, during an interview with The Korea Times Tuesday at UBC, northern Seoul. According to Hwang, 30, the story of Chun-hyang is perfect for a remake as a ballet piece with its heartwarming yet dramatic storyline, memorable characters and beautiful settings. The beautiful young maiden Chun-hyang falls in love with Mong-ryong and the two promise their love with an elegant pas de deux. Their plans take a turn, however, when Mong-ryong leaves for Seoul to take the nati

Jun 10, 2009

Star Actors Team Up in Shakespeare Play

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Prominent stars will team up in performing in William Shakespeare's ``A Midsummer Night's Dream.'' Actress Kim Hyo-jin, actors Choi Jin-young, Lee Mun-shik, Hong Seok-cheon and Ahn Nae-sang who graduated from or are studying at Hanyang University will rally behind the directorship of Choi Hyung-in, professor and founder of the theater company Hanyang Repertoire. ``I am very happy to meet actors I once worked with a long time ago. There is no communication gap between us although it has been more than 10 years since we cooperated and they are mature. Also, new faces such as Kim Hyo-jin and Choi Jin-young are doing their best,'' the professor and director said in a press conference. Lee, Hong, and Ahn, who appeared in the play 13 years ago, will take the same roles. ``When I first confessed that I would come out to my professor, she warmly hugged me. I could live in her encouragement. Without Choi's supports, there are not many actors who go their own way,'' Hong said. Ahn, who gained the popularity for the hit television drama, ``First Wi

Jun 9, 2009

Sumi Jo, Zubin Mehta and Vienna Phil

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is joining one of Korea's ― and the world's ― favorite sopranos Sumi Jo and conductor Zubin Mehta this coming September. This performance is particularly special as it is the first time the revered orchestra, soprano and maestro will join together on stage. ``It's a great honor to perform with the Vienna Philharmonic, which is adored by the world, and also my very good friend Zubin. (The performance) will be a once in a lifetime experience and I believe we will all make beautiful memories,'' Jo said at a press conference held at the sponsor Hyundai Card's building in southern Seoul, last week. Jo has performed with both Mehta and the Vienna Phil in the past, but chances of them performing together are rare, as they have tight schedules at numerous venues around the world, for years ahead. ``To be honest, this concert was almost impossible to fit into my schedule. I have one event in Paris before the (Seoul performance) and another in New York a few days later. I was worried because I thought it would

Jun 9, 2009

Fiery Flamenco to Sizzle Seoul

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Experience the passion and energy of Spanish flamenco with Carmen Mota's ``Fuego!'' at LG Arts Center, southern Seoul this week. Meaning ``fire'' in Spanish, ``Fuego!'' is an internationally renowned dance performance carried out by some of the best flamenco masters in the world, choreographed by the son of legendary flamenco dancer Carmen Mota, Joaquin Marcelo, and produced by Wayne Fowkes who worked on famous musicals like ``Notre Dame de Paris,'' ``Jesus Christ Superstar'' and ``Don Juan.'' Meeting local fans the third time already, the celebrated troupe, led by Mota herself, will offer the lust, spirit and passion of the famous gypsy dance. Instead of presenting only the original works of flamenco, ``Fuego!'' managed to incorporate a more Las Vegas-style flamboyance to the overall performance, and has successfully brought the Spanish dance to the international level. Through reinterpretations and mixing modern dance moves, costumes and stage settings between the original works, ``Fuego!'' has become a performance that everyone, f

Jun 8, 2009

Centuries-Old Porcelain Jars Unearthed in Seoul Alley

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Three white porcelain jars, estimated to be from 15th and 16th century, were unearthed in the middle of the famous ``Pimatgol'' alley in Jongno, downtown Seoul, Friday. The Hanul Research Institute of Cultural Heritage said the white porcelain pieces were found intact while an excavation was being done on an area in the neighborhood that was presumed to be the site of a 19th century building. These porcelain jars were estimated to have been made between the end of the 15th century and beginning of 16th century of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The three porcelain jars have different sizes. The tallest has a height of 36.5cm, is 16.9cm in diameter at the rim with a base diameter of 16cm. Another jar measured 35.5cm in height with a rim of 16cm and a base of 15.2cm. The smallest jar measured 28cm, a 14cm diameter rim and a base diameter of 13.3cm. Pimatgol, which literally means ``avoiding horses alley,'' was an alley for commoners during the Joseon Kingdom. Commoners built the back alley, in order to bypass the main road use

Jun 5, 2009

Arts & Theater