Many people already know I love dance and dancing. Asian dance is very specific because it reverses the purpose. In Europe, we dance our waltzes to feel the pleasure out of it. In Asia, dance is preformed for the viewers' pleasure.
This also follows into group dances. They are focused on viewer's perspective, to look attractive from the other side.
But now, not about my spazzing over boy groups dancing (*o*), but something else - fusion of ballet and Korean tradition.
I love ballet too. Lately I've been to the performance consisting of various styles - from classical ballet to contemporary dance, and two of the latter were stunning. I thought I was indifferent towards modern dance, but dance to Queen's Who Wants To Live Forever (male dancer was on 2 meters stilts) and the other one - two high school boys, rocked the stage (hey, don't judge me!).
I still hate butoh though. Useless convulsion in the flour.
I still hate butoh though. Useless convulsion in the flour.
The article is from JoongAngIlbo
Contemporary dancers from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world have
been coming to Seoul to participate in the International Modern Dance
Festival (Modafe) for the past 31 years. This year, however, organizers
decided to try something different and focus on collaborating with
France, kicking off the festival with a “FranKorean Tale,” a joint
French-Korean production.
The opening performance, choreographed by Frenchman Thomas Lebrun,
combines two folk tales from each country. For the Korean folk tale,
organizers picked “The Sun and the Moon,” often referred to as “The Sun
Girl and the Moon Boy,” while the “Little Red Riding Hood” was selected
as the French folk tale. The choreographer looked for a common theme in
the two traditional stories to combine them into one performance that
will be accompanied by shamanic music from Jeju Island. Interpretations
of the stories from Korean to French and vice versa will be provided for
the audience.
“The idea is to choreograph the two stories separately, with the same dancers, then intermingle and embark on a new writing from the previous two .?.?. like inventing a new tale combining our two cultures,” according to the press release.
Planning for the cross-cultural performance was truly an international affair.
“For this year’s opening performance, the two parties stayed together in Korea for two weeks for the production process and then moved to France for choreography for 10 days,” said Choi Sang-cheol, vice chairman of the Modafe organizing committee, during a press conference last week. “We expect this performance to contribute greatly to the exchange of cultures between the two countries.”
“The idea is to choreograph the two stories separately, with the same dancers, then intermingle and embark on a new writing from the previous two .?.?. like inventing a new tale combining our two cultures,” according to the press release.
Planning for the cross-cultural performance was truly an international affair.
“For this year’s opening performance, the two parties stayed together in Korea for two weeks for the production process and then moved to France for choreography for 10 days,” said Choi Sang-cheol, vice chairman of the Modafe organizing committee, during a press conference last week. “We expect this performance to contribute greatly to the exchange of cultures between the two countries.”
(my note: Moon and Sun legend has few versions, I present the most popular one: there was a mother who had 3 kids. Once, when she had to go to work, she lest all three, promising she will be back with some fried dubu (tofu). The conversation was overheard by the tiger (as always in kdrama), and later he wanted to get inside. Kids weren't stupid, so they didn't let him in. But the youngest one cried and tiger said that they should at least give the baby to him for feeding if they don't believe he's their mother. Of course tiger ate the baby, but wanted more. When kids realized it was a tiger, they left through the window on the high pine/spruce. Tiger saw it and wanted to climb but he was unsuccessful. Long story short, due to the stupidity of younger brother, tiger found a way to climb. Kids then asked Heaven: "dear Heaven, if you want our salvation, send us a chain, if you want our demise, send us rotten rope". And Heaven sent the chain. Tiger heard only scattered words, so he prayed: "dear Heaven, if you want my salvation, sent me a rotten rope, if you want my demise, sent me a chain." So Heaven sent him a rotten rope, and tiger fell and died.
Kids were taken to Heavens, and sister, as the smarter one was turned then into Sun, and brother - Moon.
Choi also said that “France is paying great attention to Korean dancers,” adding that most French dance troupes include at least one Korean dancer these days.
“They are also showing interest in the rapid development of Korean dance and even Korean culture,” he explained. “We are looking into developing various collaborations between France and Korea.”
Choi picked the French performance “And Then, One Thousand Years of Peace,” by French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, as the most noteworthy among many on the festival’s schedule.
“The performance is a well-known masterpiece. The choreographer, Angelin Preljocaj, is one of the most renowned choreographers in France,” Choi said.
An Algerian performance “Nya” by La Baraka Company is also drawing interest as the company picked up disadvantaged teenagers who were wandering around in Algeria and trained them for a year to become dancers. The training process was carefully recorded and turned into a documentary film.
“As a social community project, the La Baraka Company opened up a new path for youths through dance, and the performance is very significant because the company was able to turn those teenagers into professional dancers,” Choi noted.
Aside from France and Algeria, performers from Spain and Israel were also invited to participate in the international festival.
As for the domestic groups schedule to perform, 13 teams were selected to present various forms of dance, including modern dance, contemporary ballet and Korean traditional dance.
There will also be a competition during the festival, according to organizers, under the title, “Spark Place,” which will be used as an opportunity to highlight talented Korean dancers. A total of nine domestic teams will participate.
And given the rising interest in French-Korean dance collaborations, Modafe will likely be only the first of many joint projects between performers from the two countries.
“This year’s Modafe will also introduce many French performances to the country,” said Han Seon-sook, chairwoman of the Modafe organizing committee, who is also the president of the Contemporary Dance Association of Korea. “But outside of Modafe, we’ve decided to collaborate with France from this month to hold various festivals together.”
By Yim Seung-hye [sharon@joongang.co.kr]
Pictures: JoongAngIlbo
Choi also said that “France is paying great attention to Korean dancers,” adding that most French dance troupes include at least one Korean dancer these days.
“They are also showing interest in the rapid development of Korean dance and even Korean culture,” he explained. “We are looking into developing various collaborations between France and Korea.”
Choi picked the French performance “And Then, One Thousand Years of Peace,” by French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, as the most noteworthy among many on the festival’s schedule.
“The performance is a well-known masterpiece. The choreographer, Angelin Preljocaj, is one of the most renowned choreographers in France,” Choi said.
An Algerian performance “Nya” by La Baraka Company is also drawing interest as the company picked up disadvantaged teenagers who were wandering around in Algeria and trained them for a year to become dancers. The training process was carefully recorded and turned into a documentary film.
“As a social community project, the La Baraka Company opened up a new path for youths through dance, and the performance is very significant because the company was able to turn those teenagers into professional dancers,” Choi noted.
Aside from France and Algeria, performers from Spain and Israel were also invited to participate in the international festival.
As for the domestic groups schedule to perform, 13 teams were selected to present various forms of dance, including modern dance, contemporary ballet and Korean traditional dance.
There will also be a competition during the festival, according to organizers, under the title, “Spark Place,” which will be used as an opportunity to highlight talented Korean dancers. A total of nine domestic teams will participate.
And given the rising interest in French-Korean dance collaborations, Modafe will likely be only the first of many joint projects between performers from the two countries.
“This year’s Modafe will also introduce many French performances to the country,” said Han Seon-sook, chairwoman of the Modafe organizing committee, who is also the president of the Contemporary Dance Association of Korea. “But outside of Modafe, we’ve decided to collaborate with France from this month to hold various festivals together.”
By Yim Seung-hye [sharon@joongang.co.kr]
Pictures: JoongAngIlbo
