Kim Joo-won's 'Sagunja' explores relationships through dance

A scene from “Sagunja ― Seasons of Change” / Courtesy of Jeongdong Theater

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kim Joo-won is an unparalleled dancer in Korea. She spent 15 years at the Korea National Ballet as a principal dancer and instead of settling for the top position at the troupe, she left the company in 2012 to pursue her own artistry.

Encompassing a wide range of dance from classical ballet to contemporary and Korean traditional dance, Kim is open to collaboration with artists in other genres. She appeared as the woman in the yellow dress in musical "Contact," Lisa in play "L'appartment" and portrayed edgy artist Jade in multidisciplinary performance "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

She also ventured out as a creative director and producer, while continuing to dance. She organized the Korean premiere of Frederick Ashton's "Marguerite and Armand" in 2013 and produced an original performance combining tango and ballet "Tango Ballet 3 Minutes: Su Tiempo” last year.

The 43-year-old dancer now presents “Sagunja ― Seasons of Change,” a performance combining dance with music and stage art to tell a story about life and relationships, at the Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul.

"It has been almost 30 years since I started dancing and I've been a professional dancer for over 20 years. Looking back on my career, it was all about relationships ― from my teachers to my colleagues. People come and go but those relationships helped me grow as a person," Kim said.

A scene from “Sagunja ― Seasons of Change” / Courtesy of Jeongdong Theater

The title “Sagunja,” refers to the four gracious plants in Korean tradition ― plum blossoms for spring, orchids for summer, chrysanthemums for autumn and bamboo for winter. Kim interpreted the complex and persistent ties between people as seasons change.

The performance revolves around two spirits that relate to each other in different ways in different lives, transcending time and space.

In the first chapter, a Buddhist monk helps a butterfly to avoid rain, signaling the beginning of their relationship.

The second chapter is about a warrior and his sword. The warrior wants to let go of his weapon, but it is no easy task because of the spirit it embodies. The struggle is expressed through a powerful dance.

The third and the longest chapter tells a story of a dancer, who just finished her last performance, and her husband. Set in a time and space reminiscent of a South Korean dancer who defected to North Korea, the setting intensifies the conflict between the dancer and her husband.

In the final chapter, an astronaut on a spacewalk longs for his wife, portrayed through a duo dance representing their repeating relations.

Each chapter seem may seem unrelated, but it all boils down to the message of relationships.

Actors Park Hae-soo and Yoon Na-moo, ballet dancers Kim Hyun-woon, Yoon Jeon-il and Kim Seok-ju join Kim's journey of relationships.

Sometimes, the actor and the dancer mirror each other, while the three dancers keep in step according to the actor's words in another scene. The actors dance like dancers, while Kim acts and reads lines like an actor, blurring the boundaries between their roles.

Kim Joo-won said it is difficult to define the genre of "Sagunja" as it combines dance with music and spoken word. "It is more like a duet of language and dance. I've been trying to capture the Korean sentiment in dance, while making something people around the world can relate to," she said.

Designer Jung Ku-ho participated in the show as artistic director and scenic designer, bringing his minimalistic aesthetics to portray the repeating ties. In stage art, Jung emphasizes specific colors ― white, green, red and black ― for each chapter, leaving a strong visual impression.

Musician Jung Jae-il of "Parasite" fame, who worked with Kim in "The Picture of Dorian Gray," composed music for the work, reflecting different aspects of relationships.

Akram Khan Company dancer Kim Sung-hoon choreographed the performance.

It also commemorates the theater's 25th anniversary. Kim previously performed at Jeongdong Theater back in 2007, returning to the central Seoul venue for the first time in 13 years.

"This performance marks a new leap forward for Jeongdong Theater, which seeks changes in its programming," the theater's director said.

The performance runs through Nov. 8.