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Arts & Theater

ABT Dancers Promise Powerful Performance

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The America Ballet Theater (ABT) has returned to Seoul for the first time in 12 years and the members expressed their excitement at the press conference promoting their upcoming performances. ``It's great to be back in Seoul. It's been a while and we hope we will get to know the city a little better this time. We are not here as just dancers to perform, but as cultural ambassadors and we hope we learn a lot from this opportunity,'' Kevin McKenzie, the art director of ABT, told reporters. Herman Cornejo, Xiomara Reyes, Jose Manuel Carreno, Paloma Herrera, Michele Wiles and Korean member Seo Hee appeared at the conference, looking a bit tired but enthusiastic about their performance ``Don Quixote.'' The ABT has prepared three distinctive works for fans here: ``Etudes'' and ``Rabbit and Rogue''' for the opening gala and ``Don Quixote'' as the main act. ``I have been on stage for `Don Quixote' so many times, but whenever I do, it's a whole new experience. I hope Korean fans will be able to feel the same excitement,'' Herrera, one of the best

Jul 29, 2008

Electronic Art Exhibit Tackles Disability

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Disabilities are often a topic that makes people uncomfortable, and there are many social prejudices that still exist for people with them. The exhibit ``thisAbility vs. Disability'' at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art tackles the topic of disability in society through 10 interactive electronic art works by Korean and foreign artists. Curator Jeon Byeong-sam wanted to tackle the ``themes of human capability through creative transition of the senses.'' ``Just as all people have distinct figures, appearances and characteristics, which we may call `disability' is only a difference, not a defect. This exhibition presents artworks that invite a reappraisal of disability. … I hope that the exhibition `thisAbility vs. Disability' helps roll back outdated notions of disability in society, that we may embrace our diversity and understand each other through the heart,'' Jeon said. Visitors can try the interactive electronic artworks, such as bells that ring in time to your heartbeat and a digital musical instrument that can be pla

Jul 28, 2008

Proof Lacks Depth

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter A small and humble theater in Daehangno was packed with people eager to see the hit play ``Proof'' by American playwright David Auburn. Some of the audience might have come to the theater to see TV star Kim Ji-ho, while others were attracted by the drama's Broadway reputation. Whatever the reasons were, they seemed strongly moved by the drama, which delves into human relations, identity, love and finally belief through mathematics. The Korean production of ``Proof'' makes good use of the reputation of the main actress as well as the drama itself. Kim returns to the stage two years after her latest work, ``Closer'' as the troubled 25-year-old Catherine. The play revolves around the mathematically talented Catherine, the daughter of a renowned Chicago mathematician who suffers from a mental breakdown and finally dies of a heart attack. Catherine sacrifices a promising career to take care of her father in his later years and is gradually captivated by the fear that she might have inherited her father's mental illness. Meanwhile

Jul 28, 2008

Goryeo Porcelain Discovered in Taean County

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter A total of 515 pieces of Goryeo green porcelain noted for its shapes, patterns, glazes and firing techniques were found in Taean County in South Chungcheong Province. According to the National Maritime Museum, the porcelain could have been possibly produced in the 12th century to the 13th century at kilns in Buan or Gangjin in Jeolla Province during the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), given its making techniques and patterns. The museum said that it recovered the relics from the sea 300 meters off the west coast of Mado. The shipwreck carrying the relics has not been found yet as it could be possibly buried, according to the museum. The massive excavation began last year after a fisherman discovered a blue-green saucer when he pulled up a baby octopus trap from the sea, leading to the excavation of tens of thousands of lost ``treasures'' of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392). From the marine excavation, the museum recovered a total of 22,572 pieces of Goryeo celadon pieces and a shipwreck carrying the porcelain. The museum said that th

Jul 27, 2008

Pentaport Rocks Again in the Rain

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter INCHEON ― Thousands of fans once again converged the muddy Daewoo Motors Park in Song-do over the weekend to watch some of the hottest bands from Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Japan at this year's Pentaport Rock Festival. The occasional downpour and massive mud puddles did not deter fans from singing, jumping, dancing and just enjoying the electric performances from bands like Travis, Kasabian, The Gossip, Ellegarden and Underworld throughout the three-day event. Pentaport, Korea's biggest rock festival, started off slow on Friday with relatively sparse crowds maybe due to the low-key daytime line-up featuring mostly Korean indie groups like Tacopy, Sweater, Double Famous and Peter Pan Complex. Things finally got rocking when British group The Go!Team hit the Big Top Stage, the festival's main stage, on Friday afternoon. With their cheerleader-type rapping and thumping music, The Go!Team had the crowd dancing throughout their hour-long set. Ninja, rapper and vocalist, showed her funky dance moves in

Jul 27, 2008

Seoul Hosts Media Art Biennale in September

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Seoul will turn into ``media city'' in September, as it plays host to the 5th Seoul International Media Art Biennale. Also known as Media City Seoul 2008, the biennale will showcase how art and technology meet in innovative works by artists from all over the world. It opens Sept. 11 at the Seoul Museum of Art and will run for 55 days through Nov. 5. Sixty-nine artists from 26 countries, including Korea, Japan, China, Australia, France, United States, Netherlands and Denmark, have been invited to present their works at the event. Park Il-ho, exhibition director and professor at Ewha Womans University, said this year's main theme is ``Turn and Widen" referring to the growing influence of media art around the world. ``The theme is based upon the fact that media art has been greatly influential on changes and expansion of aesthetic experience by drawing and turning new forms of media into art. The exhibition will categorize the differences between the forms of traditional art and media art by organizing three different sections

Jul 25, 2008

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 the ones 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 of 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 a

Jul 24, 2008

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Summer Chamber Music 2008 Seoul Arts Center Aug. 9 Seoul Arts Center and Avec Trio ― pianist Seo Jung-won, violinist Lee Hye-jung and cellist Song In-jung ― have prepared a special summer chamber music performance for fans. Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 15,000 won. Visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. 2008 MIK Ensemble Recital Seungnam Arts Center Oct. 17 Four talented classical musicians are joining together once again to perform as MIK. Join pianist Kim Julius Jeong-won, violist Kim Sang-jin, violinist Kim Soo-vin and cellist Song Young-hoon and listen to their beautiful harmony at the performance. Tickets cost from 22,000 won to 66,000 won. Visit http://ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2658-3546. Located near exit 1 of Imae Station on the Bundang line. Seoul Guitar Quartet Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center Aug. 23 The Seoul Guitar Quartet is renowned for its diversity in music, which ranges from classical to jazz and contemporary. At this performance, the group

Jul 24, 2008

Celebrating 100th Anniversary

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter A 100th anniversary is usually associated with hilarity and festivity, but for the Korean theater arena which turns 100 this year, self-reflection rather than celebration is unfortunately the more likely sentiment with the waning industry seeing dwindling audiences, dwarfed by the booming musical industry and light-hearted shows. ``We should look back to our past first to use the centennial anniversary as a turning point for the local theater arena,'' Park Kei-bai, president of the National Theater Association of Korea (NTAK), said in an interview with The Korea Times. He said that the theater should find its identity internally and reach much closer to audiences through this year's anniversary. ``Our senior thespians fiercely made plays despite difficult situations under Japanese colonial occupation a century ago. But they never lost their passion and dreams about the power of plays. I want to revive our predecessors' spirits in present thespians who live in these materially rich but spiritually less desperate days,'' he said. Kor

Jul 23, 2008

ABT Returns With Don Quixote

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The American Ballet Theater (ABT), a star-studded troupe of American ballet dancers, is coming to Seoul for the first time in 12 years. The ABT, which was founded in 1939, is one of the three most highly acclaimed ballet troupes, along with England's Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. Unlike other companies where choreographers share similar views in terms of style, the ABT has opened its doors to numerous ballet masters and supports ``variety.'' Thus the troupe is famed to this day for the dancers' colorful characteristics in movement, style and skill. The home to so many prominent dancers including Paloma Herrera, Angel Corella, Gillian Murphy and Michele Wiles, the ABT will indeed be a memorable experience not only for ballet fans, but also ballet beginners as well. At the Seoul performance, the troupe will offer one of their finest works, ``Don Quixote'' as the main performance and ``Etudes'' and ``Rabbit and Rogue'' at the opening gala. The two gala acts will be on stage for the first time here. ``Etudes,'' choreographed by H

Jul 23, 2008
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