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Arts & Theater

Music Theater Festival to Heat Up Uijeongbu

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Uijeongbu, a northeast suburb of Seoul, is often regarded as on the fringe of the mainstream culture in the capital city. However, every May, Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province is crowded with people both from the neighborhood and other regions to see the annual distinguished musical theatre performances. The Uijeongbu Music Theater Festival (UMTF), which marks its eighth year since its inception in 2002 as an international performing arts festival, will take place from May 1 to 16. The festival features a variety of performances from both home and abroad, including world renowned indoor and street theaters which all use music and sound as a central element. Rhee Jin-bae, executive director of the festival, said that this year is designed to draw more of a general audience from outside the region with diverse programs. ``Uijeongbu is not an outsider from the mainstream cultural center of Seoul anymore. I believe the region can also become a cultural venue as we've hosted various high-profile performances that can attract many visitors fo

Apr 1, 2009

Universal Ballet to Present La Bayadere

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Universal Ballet Company is bringing the majestic ``La Bayadere,'' also known as the ``blockbuster'' in the world of ballet, this month. Perhaps the first thing that comes to people's minds when they think of ballet is pale pink toe shoes and fluffy tutus, but ``La Bayadere'' presents the exotic settings of India, along with seductive movements and revealing outfits. ``It's the best of the best, from the settings, costumes, props and choreography to the music. There are about 150 dancers, including extras, who will appear on stage, and even a life-size elephant,'' UBC's principal dancer, Kang Ye-na, told The Korea Times during an interview between rehearsals. Created by legendary choreographer Marius Petipa and debuted in 1877 by the Imperial Ballet, ``La Bayadere'' is one of the biggest ballet works in the world. Visitors can enjoy graceful dance with colorful costumes and settings, the dramatic movements and the beautiful yet tragic storyline. The plot revolves around three young lovers: Nikia, the ``bayadere," or temple dance

Apr 1, 2009

Faust Goes on Stage

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Eimuntas Nekrosius, one of the most renowned theater directors in Lithuania, is coming to town to put a classical piece, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's ``Faust,'' on stage. Nekrosius comes with ``Faust'' three years after the successful performances of ``Hamlet'' in 2000, ``Othello'' in 2002 and ``Macbeth'' in 2006 here. A beloved director among Koreans for his Shakespearean pieces, he will show off the masterful German work, regarded as one of the toughest to perform because of its huge scale and abstruse interpretation of the original. The tragic play portrays the human desires wandering through Faust, a scientific empiricist, who is forced to confront questions of good and evil, God, the devil, sexuality and morality. The work is Goethe's lifetime masterpiece, consisting of two parts, and will run for four hours on stage. Nekrosius is renowned for his directorship, using soothing background music of a repetitive pattern throughout the performance, extensive dance and movement, unique props, and elements as water, fire, wind, ice a

Mar 30, 2009

The Opposite House Showcases Chinese Art

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter While most high-end hotels are usually decorated with unobtrusive, not-so-memorable art pieces, The Opposite House in Beijing boasts of a collection of Chinese artworks revolving around the theme of fashion and design. The Opposite House, a striking six-story building with an emerald green facade designed by famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, may look more like a cool art gallery or a very stylish office building. This ``intriguing urban hotel'' is a showcase for unique works by young contemporary Chinese artists such as Wang Jin, Li Xiao Feng, Chen Qing Qing, Fiona Wong, Kum Chi Keung and Pamela See. Alex Chen, assistant director for sales and communications at The Opposite House, said the hotel's location, in the middle of The Village at Sanlitun, a new leisure, shopping and cultural development, greatly influenced the choice of fashion-inspired art works on display. ``We thought of how to relate The Opposite House with the retail section of The Village at Sanlitun. It's all retail, clothing and fashion related shops. O

Mar 30, 2009

Rolling Stones Memorabilia at Gallery Cha

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When Kariem Hamed watched the legendary Rolling Stones play at a small club in Amsterdam in 1995, little did he know it would become a lifelong obsession. Since that first concert, Hamed has traveled to different parts of Europe and the United States just to see the Stones perform. ``I've watched them over 60 times, from the Voodoo Lounge to Licks tours all over the world. I've also been to some special shows. The most special one would have to be in October 2006 when they played at the concert (at Beacon Theatre in New York City) that Martin Scorcese filmed for the documentary `Shine A Light.' It was a really special night,'' Hamed told The Korea Times. Hamed, who works for ING Life Insurance Korea, may have started a few decades late as a fan of the Stones, formed in 1962. But he has more than made up for lost time by collecting their albums, books and, like any true fan, various Stones memorabilia. Now his collection of Rolling Stones memorabilia is showcased as part of the ``stART me up! Art Inspired by the Rolling Stones

Mar 29, 2009

Wonder Girls Pull Off First Concert With Success

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Girl group Wonder Girls showed that they were ready for the world with their singing and dancing at their first concert, ``The 1st Wonder,'' at Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Saturday. The five-member group, consisting of Sun-ye, Ye-eun, Yu-bin, Sun-mi and So-hee, appeared on stage right on schedule, with fans who ranged from elementary students to parents, cheering and shouting their names. Dressed in black leather leggings, sparkling green boleros and black ``kill-heel'' sandals, the girls greeted the audience with their first song, ``I Wanna.'' The 8,000-strong crowd shouted whenever members' faces filled the two large screens on both sides of the stage, shaking purple and red glow sticks along with the music. Then the girls appeared with a more futuristic look, with silver jackets and sparkling make-up, and offered the songs ``Bad Boy'' and ``Good Bye.'' But the LED screen in the setting seemed a bit awkward, as it showed images of flowers, which was hard to connect with the metallic image the girls were going for. When the melod

Mar 29, 2009

John Legend Sings for Charity in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter A day before his first solo concert in Seoul, American R&B star John Legend made a special appearance for a charity event to benefit Korean orphans on Saturday evening. The Grammy Award-winning singer performed four songs for a small group of donors at ``A Night of Charity for Children,'' at the Bamboo House, in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. Donors, who bought tickets at 1 million won each, also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Legend. Proceeds from the event will go to various Korean orphanages through the Community Chest of Korea, and Legend's own Show Me Campaign, which funds poverty-alleviation programs in Tanzania. ``I'm so excited to be here. It's great to have a warm welcome in Korea ... I go to a lot of places, and I'm always impressed by people who are willing to give the time and money to make someone else's life a little better,'' Legend told the audience, which included guest of honor U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stevens and hip-hop stars T Yoon Mi-rae and Tiger JK. Legend impressed everyone in the room

Mar 29, 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

Mar 27, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Kim Hee-sung's Pipe Organ Recital: `Moving Pictures at an Exhibition' Sejong Center for the Performing Arts April 21 The Sejong Center's pipe organ, the largest in Asia, will come to life with moving pictures. Kim Hee-sung will hold recital under the title ``Moving Pictures at an Exhibition,'' appropriately featuring Mussorgsky's famous piece ``Pictures at an Exhibition'' and moving screen images by artist Lee Jong-mok. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 780-5054. Located near exit 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Emma Kirkby & London Baroque: `Shakespeare in Love' LG Arts Center April 6 Renowned soprano Emma Kirkby will visit Korea with the famous London Baroque and will perform various songs inspired by Shakespeare, including ``When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining" and `` Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away.'' Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2005-0114. Located near exit 7 of Yeoksam Station on subway line 2. Chung My

Mar 27, 2009

Creative Dance Events to Beckon Fans This Spring

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Two interesting dance events will entertain fans this coming spring: the Seoul International Improvisation Dance Festival 2009 and ``The Fisherman's Calendar.'' Celebrating its ninth year as the only improvisation dance event in Asia, the International Improvisation Dance Festival will bring impromptu movements, ideas and techniques to the stage. Unlike other conventional performances, improvisation works are about freedom and creativity, as the dancers don't have to follow a script or pre-planned choreography. ``Improvisation is the most important method during the dance composing process because it is a work from the unconsciousness. The free gestures will stimulate not just dancers but also the audience,'' the artistic director Kwan Ryul-jang said in a press release. The event aims to discover talented newcomers, offer innovative dancers the chance to show off their moves and, most importantly, share the energy and joy of movement with the public. This year, the festival committee has invited many creative artists from around the

Mar 26, 2009
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