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Category Archives: B-boys
B-boys promote Korean tourism at KCC
23-Aug-08
It’s now more than a year since the somewhat controversial launch of the Korea, Sparkling tourism brand. As I suspected at the time, people would get used to it in due course, and now the logo has become a familiar feature on the various tourist literature available.
The branding, together with the Han Style campaign and other investments in the tourism industry is all part of the effort to reduce Korea’s tourism deficit – an early priority of the Lee Government ((See the minutes of President Lee's first cabinet meeting, where the new tourism minister Yu In-chon is put on the spot (search the article for "tourism deficit"). ))
"Tourism is ... a future growth industry, but the tourism deficit has worsened, ...
Korean Artists at the Edinburgh Fringe
25-Jun-08
I spotted that the Cho-in Theatre Company are putting on a performance at the KCC this coming Monday (30 June). A still from their production The Angel and the Woodcutter is shown on the right.
This notice got me thinking about the Edinburgh Fringe, which was choc-full of Korean talent last year. Same again this year, with the emphasis on "physical theatre", including the b-boy crew who gave us the "Ballerina who loves b-boys" last year. Some more traditional performances as well.
Here's the results of typing "Korea" into the Edinburgh Fringe website. Do check the website for any changes, and for venue details.
Yo! Chunhyang - A Pansori Musical of Chunhyang
Fusion musical retelling of Korea's Chunhyangga legend, mixing Western music and traditional ...
North-South Korea b-boy battle
10-Jun-08
Someone's been having a bit of fun creating a spoof b-boy battle at Panmunjom. Enjoy.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKoXG0RjC7E[/youtube]
You have to wait 60 seconds for the real action to start. HT to Tom Coyner.
My recent post on Korean events at the Edinburgh Fringe seriously undersold the Korean involvement there. I was simply reproducing the publicity of one particular organisation - Korea@fringe. But that organisation is only responsible for the six acts I mentioned in my previous post. Thanks to Colin Bartlett for pointing this out. So here is, as far as I am aware, a complete list of the Korean acts at the Fringe (derived simply by searching the Fringe website for the keyword "Korea").
The Angel and the Woodcutter - Cho-in Theatre group, 1-27 August Venue C
Award-winning physical theatre. An innovative infusion of traditional and contemporary style. Comedic but utterly compelling. Amidst war and desperation blooms a beautiful Korean folk tale that speaks ...
kore@fringe
24-Jul-07
Korean artists feature in no less than six productions at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Something for everyone. Full details below:
Dulsori
Binari -- The Spirit of the Beat @ The Old College Quad
3 - 27 August
Don't miss this passionate and colourful performance showcasing the unique heritage and spirited origins of traditional Korean culture. Lose yourself in the powerful beats and dynamic rhythms of the drums. Binari: The Spirit of the Beat will intrigue audiences bringing the mesmerizing and synchronised sounds of the Orient into a spectacular performance using dynamic percussion, energetic singing and the rituals of the ancient arts. It is one of the oldest Korean traditions -- so make sure you come along and feel the beat!
"It's a gripping performance ...
Rivers dance for Dano
18-Jun-07
A roving reporter's account of yesterday's Trafalgar Square Dano festivities
by Jennifer Barclay
with photos mostly by Jeon Sung-min (photo of the b-boys by Katie)
It was a grey day on Sunday 17 June; but I donned a slightly sparkling T-shirt and set out for Trafalgar Square for the first 'Korea, Sparkling' Dano festival to be held there. 'Korea, Sparkling' is the new brand to lure foreigners to Korea. Dano? A traditional Korean summer festival, where people from neighbouring villages came together to have fun and celebrate the spirit of community. It would be just as likely to rain in Korea too, but warmer. The dark clouds looked like they might just hold off. And the cute little kids waving flags provided enough ...
Korean open-air Dano (early summer) Festival, Trafalgar Square, Sunday 17 June, 12-6pm
First, here's Team Kroniculs, aka the Jaguar Demo, who will be participating in the Taekwondo display. It's not just martial arts they do:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZSQ1W7NTCo[/youtube]
Next, here's the Korean b-boy crew Rivers:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcEU3CMpN-E[/youtube]
They'll be battling against the UK's Bad Taste Cru. Here's b-boyTime:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmnZzCAKX_4[/youtube]
There will be some Samulnori percussion (though not the group illustrated here):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz1IiPlGa-0[/youtube]
and a traditional Korean fan dance like this:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsvCfkWmlb8[/youtube]
and a Korean sword dance, which might look something like this:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUdkQQQnOXA[/youtube]
The things you can find on YouTube nowadays...
For a full listing of the events on Sunday 17 June in Trafalgar Square, celebrating the Dano Festival, click on the link below. Thanks to Asiana Airlines for generously providing some of the funding.
Links:
Dano Festival programme
Universal ...
For those who missed the Korean breakdancers when they came to London earlier this year, the Rivers crew from Korea (left) will be battling it out with the Bad Taste Cru from the UK in Trafalgar Square on June 17.
It's all part of a unique event to celebrate Dano, the Korean early summer festival. Over thirty musicians and performers will be coming over from Korea to take part in DANO, Korea Sparkling Summer Festival 2007. It's the first time that a Korean cultural event has been held in such a high profile location. Apart from the B-boys, most of the visitors from Korea will be from the Yeongsan company of traditional arts.
There will be food stalls, craft demonstrations and all ...
The Korean breakdancing scene
22-Apr-07
The talent on display at the Peacock at the moment is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Korean B-boy scene. Korean breakdancing is getting almost to be mainstream - to the extent that corporate suits hire B-boys to provide some glitz and glamour to a new product launch; and they make a brief appearance in the latest Korea, Sparkling promotional video.
Apart from the breakdancers at the Peacock right now, last month saw the top Korean breakdancing group Last4One conducting a UK tour, including a performance of "Spin Odyssey" at the Riverside Studio in Hammersmith (which I'm afraid I only found out about after the event as I don't really move in hip-hop circles) and a ...
Yegam Inc: BreakOut
21-Apr-07
Those who have been to see Jump will be familiar with the formula. Some very clever slapstick, a small amount of enforced audience participation, and some excellent acrobatics. Whereas in Jump the acrobatics involved martial arts, in Break Out it involved some pretty impressive breakdancing.
With the Taekwondo in Jump, the amazing displays flowed naturally from the plot: you have some burglars in the house, so obviously you try to rough them up a bit, and they try to rough you up in return. But how do you introduce breakdancing into a prison escape plot? With difficulty. Something about an ancient text which lands in the prison and somehow gives the prisoners magical breakdancing powers. If that sounds like something out ...
Minis and breakdancing
20-Apr-07
Seen in Insadong in February this year:
On show at the Peacock right now:
Break Out finishes on Sunday. Hurry.
Jump with B-boys
08-Apr-07
Just spotted this new show advertised in Time Out. It's Jump with breakdancing instead of Taekwondo. Sounds fun. At the Peacock after Jump finishes, 19-22 April.
Following the international success of JUMP, Ye Gam Theatre & SevenSense present the world premiere of their new show Break Out. Promising to do for hip-hop dance what Jump did martial arts Break Out mixes the hottest B-Boy dance moves with gymnastics, martial arts and hilarious visual comedy.
When a mysterious ancient sacred text drops into their prison it inspires the desperate prisoners to plan a daring escape into the outside world where they are able to enjoy a brief moment of freedom.
Featuring a cast of top quality performers including some of Korea's leading B-Boys, Break ...
B-boy masterclass at the Roundhouse
20-Feb-07
The flier below tells you everything you need to know for a masterclass with some champion Korean breakdancers on 18 March.
Some pictures of Insadong
23-Jan-07
As I've been on a plane for what feels like the last 24 hours, a lazy post today.
Insadong on a Sunday morning, before it gets busy:
One of the products for sale:
Question: If the diary is designed for the Japanese market, why is the writing in English?
And a British style icon somehow perching on a slanting roof:
Update 22 Feb 2007:
A pic from the Chosun Ilbo: A promotional event involving the above mini and some b-boys:
