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Category Archives: Performance arts
Yi Chul Jin at Durham and SOAS
16-Nov-08
Dr Yi Chul Jin (이철진) has been in London for 6 months as part of a residency at SOAS. Dr Yi is head of the Korean Dance Art Academy, and is next in line to be the holder of the national intangible cultural property number 27, the Seung mu.
There are two opportunities to see him perform before he returns to Seoul. Firstly, this Wednesday, 19 November at Durham University Concert Hall at 1pm, where he will perform Salpuri chum (살풀이 - Korean shamanistic dance) and Seung mu (승무 - Korean buddhist drum dance). At 3pm he will be participating in a Korean music workshop.
Dr Yi will also be appearing at the Brunei Theatre at SOAS on 12 December at 7pm, ...
"That was world class" said a knowledgeable member of last night's audience at the Laban Theatre in Greenwich. I think I probably agree. The visual impact of the dance, the variety of music - from Korean hip hop to Mozart via experimental electronica, the extreme rhythmic complexity... all of it seemed, to an untutored eye such as mine, extremely innovative. I had tried to drag along a couple of friends, and for the first half hour I felt they were really missing out.
Why had I been unable to persuade my friends to come along? Mainly because I myself didn't know what to expect, and so couldn't sell it to them. The Laban theatre website, consulted on the day for assistance, ...
Hong Sungyop's Dance Theatre ON presents
The Story of Ah Q
Dance Theatre ON's UK premiere
Date: Tuesday 04 November 2008
Time: 7:30pm (70min without intermission)
Venue: LABAN, Creekside, London SE8 3DZ
Tickets: £15 / £10 (concessions)
Box Office 0208 469 9500 (via Greenwich Theatre)
Book online www.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk/peo22430/ (follow links to Laban Theatre)
Produced by Dance Theatre ON (co-production with LG Arts Center)
Supported by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism / Korean Cultural Centre UK
Managed by KCPA
Hong Sungyop's Dance Theatre ON, the world-class dance company known for its artistic performances, presents Ah Q, the choreography of poetic language.
If a blossom of passion blooms on my tired back,
Would they say my back is miserable?
Would they say the blossom is ugly?
If the bloom dries out;
And red buds rise on the branch,
Would ...
Sorea - gugak fusion
11-Oct-08
A lazy post with a link to a performance of a number entitled "Seoul in panic" by the gugak fusion band Sorea. Modern music performed on traditional instruments, with dancing both traditional and modern. It could be taken straight from a Korea, Sparkling promotional video. It works rather well:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_tytIJ9u8E[/youtube]
The b-boys are from Extreme Crew.
Less satisfying as a musical experience are the massed strings of the Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra playing some Pachelbel, but Last 4 One makes up for it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8qhYq7VNXw[/youtube]
A version of this was performed at the Korean Cultural Centre in London not so long ago.
Back to Sorea - this time without the breakdancing - for a TV performance of Red Sky and an Arirang
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYepfCBoCIA[/youtube]
They're probably better when they're on a ...
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, ...
The Cho-in Theatre Company ended their two-week tour of England at the KCC on Monday. They're now off to the Avignon Festival before returning for their now regular slot at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
Cho-in was founded in 2002 by Chung-euy Park. It has a wily eye on the international market, with its productions generally non-verbal, and having hired an English international manager (Lucinda Walker - right), who introduced the company to the KCC audience this week.
The company's first two productions sound homely enough. Their brochure says introduces their first production, The Train (70 mins), thus:
This beautiful Korean folktale explores the fragility of everyday life, and the endurance of human love.
Similarly, the second production:
The Angel and the Woodcutter is a ...
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.
Related posts:Welcome to North Korea A documentary by Peter Tetteroo and Raymond Feddema If you...That Wonder Girls song - and an antidote This one will be quick. Once again, Matt over at...YouTube Korea - Fighting Congrats to the Metropolitician and Bum Lee on their YouTube...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
We are not Chinese: Do not miss JUMP!
20-Apr-08
JUMP! Yegam Theatre at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre, till 10 May 2008
Winner 'Comedy Award' at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2006
Korean National Assembly 'Grand Prize for Drama & Musical,' 2006
BBC TV 'The Royal Variety Performance,' December 2006
Review by Grace Kim
To start with what everyone already knows, it's pretty much impossible not to enjoy JUMP! even if you happen to be a sad old grouch sucking on rotten lemons all day. If you haven't seen it already, and even if you have, take another look at this international smash hit Korean classic-- before someone gets hurt!
"Don't go to the cinema, don't stay in and watch TV. Go and see the movie length Korean show Jump! and you'll get ...
Yes, free tickets are potentially on offer to the hit martial arts comedy show, JUMP! which returns to the Peacock next week for a three-week run.
Here’s the deal.
I’m always looking for new talent to join the community of LKL guest contributors. And that includes volunteers to write reviews of particular events.
Jump is a great show (I went two years ago). I’m unable to go along this year, but I’d like someone to write a review for this site and hopefully persuade other people to go along too. So, if you can convince me that you’ll write a review and get it ready before the show’s run ends, then Sadlers Wells are generously making available two free tickets for you and ...
Jump Returns to the Peacock
11-Apr-08
The smash hit martial arts comedy Jump returns to the Peacock for the third year running. Expect lots of fun, virtuoso gymnastic solos, slick coordination, great visual humour and generally a good night out. But if you're a shy retiring type don't sit in an aisle seat near the front. Like many Korean stage shows, the audience is expected to participate.
If you didn't catch this last year - or the year before - make sure you see it this time round. Or go see it again.
At the Peacock, from 15 April.
Links
Map of the Peacock
Book tickets
Special deal: become an LKL reviewer and win 2 free tickets
Related posts:Jump returns to the Peacock Ye-gam Inc’s hit martial arts slapstick show returns ...
The Kam Tree
02-Feb-08
...A magical new story for children aged four and over, their families and friends
Written by Peter Wynne Willson; Music by Park Young Ju; Design by Olly Shapley
The fruit on the Kam Tree is the best in the whole world. The musical magpie who lives high in its branches knows that -- everybody does. But no-one has ever remembered how the beautiful fruit first appeared -- until now...
Many years ago, there was no tree here -- just a house, a yard and a boy with a very sick mother. Then came the tiger -- and as the boy had to learn not to be scared and make friends with everyone's sworn enemy, things began to change.
Moby Duck's latest Korean collaboration mixes storytelling with physical theatre, ...
Woyzeck: review
25-Jan-08
Sadari Movement Laboratory: Woyzeck
Part of the London Mime Festival
Review by Saharial
I am not an expert on mime or dance in any way, and lack any technical terms of description and I also have no real point of reference or comparison as dance is not my forte. Thanks to Philip though I was given the opportunity to watch the Sadari Movement Laboratory's interpretation of Woyzeck which plays at the South Bank until Saturday. I had no idea what to expect -- all I knew was that it was mime or dance of a German play set to Argentinean tango music. 'Woyzeck' by the German playwright Georg Buchner is the story of a soldier that gets driven mad by various events and ...
Woyzeck: synopsis
25-Jan-08
For the benefit of those who don't have time to read the programme notes of Sadari Movement Laboratory's interpretation of Woyzeck before the show -- maybe because of the rather laid-back style of service in the QEH foyer bar -- here is the synopsis:
1 Woyzeck & the Captain: The Captain bullies Woyzeck, and taunts him for his sin of fathering a child out of wedlock.
2 The Field: Woyzeck is in a field that is partially a cemetery. He is plagued by terrible visions: a human head that continually rolls down a hill, and a demonic horde under the ground blowing hellish trumpets and bells.
3 Marie sees the Military Parade: Marie holding her child sees the military marching past. She catches ...
Woyzeck comes to London from Edinburgh
07-Jan-08
As part of the London Mime Festival 2008, one of the hits of last year's Edinburgh Fringe will be coming to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, 24-26 January.
Sadari Movement Laboratory - Woyzeck
Thursday 24 January 2008 - Saturday 26 January 2008
George Buchner's Woyzeck, based on the true story of a poor German soldier driven to madness by inhuman military discipline and murders his mistress, remains one of the most enigmatic, shocking and influential works of modern theatre. In this gripping, stripped-down version from Korea, objects, bodies, movement and space combine to create a dynamic physical and visual language, revealing the characters' emotional states with shattering clarity and force. Astor Piazzola's passionate and atmospheric tango music is an integral part of the drama.
Founded ...
Mime at Barton Green
29-Nov-07
It was a cold and frosty evening in New Malden ((23 November)). But inside the Barton Green Theatre it was warm and cosy. From the outside, the building looks like a cricket pavilion, but if so the green itself would not be large enough for a proper game. Inside it's a small, welcoming community theatre, with slightly battered armchairs in a side room which served as a bar.
The auditorium was packed -- it was standing room only. As was to be expected, the ethnic mix of the audience was almost 100% Korean (I only counted 3 westerners including myself in the capacity crowd of about 70) with the age range spanning 6 to 60. The scarcity of non-Koreans in the ...
New Malden Arts Festival
09-Nov-07
I've just been sent brief details of the New Malden Arts festival which takes place over the next couple of weeks. Korean interest is in the form of mime artist Ko Jae-kyung (right). Also, Francesca Cho will have some works on display.
12 NOV - 17 NOV 2007 Art Exhibitions
Venues: Tudor Williams, Café 32, Dae Young Travel, London New Days Gallery, Fonetek
17 NOV 2007, 14.00 - 17.30 Open Performances
Venues: Tudor Williams, Bar Malden, Malden Centre, Hobkirk House, Waitrose Square,
17 NOV 2007, 10:00 -17:00 Interactive Arts Project
Venues: Hairline, Tudor Williams, Malden Centre
17 NOV 2007, 18:00 Launch Party at Barton Green
Celebration of Partnership between Theatre 4 All and Green Theatre Company with music (20min) and mime performances (20min) in Barton Green Theatre. Drinks ...
Kayagum and dance at SOAS
06-Nov-07
As part of the SOAS autumn concert series there's a kayagum recital, with traditional and contemporary dance, on 19 November at 7pm.
Choi Jin (최진) : Evocative Korean Kayagum and Dance
Choi Jin is one of the most brilliant kayagum players in the Korean music world. As a well-known performer, she has given many concerts around the world and has published 3 CDs. At SOAS, she will combine brilliant technical artistry on the zither with traditional and contemporary dance. The sound of Choi Jin and her kayagum ensemble will transport you to one of Asia's most distant lands, evoking ancient and contemporary worlds.
Free admission, no booking required. It's first come, first served.
Venue: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, ...
Getting Married at the Oval
09-Oct-07
Yellow Earth, who last year brought us David Tse Ka-shing's version of King Lear, comes to the Oval House bringing a double bill of East Asian short plays. Coupled with Dogs, by Elangovan (from Singapore), is Getting Married by Yi Kang-baek.
GETTING MARRIED
by Yi Kang-baek
A young swindler is looking for love. He has borrowed a big house for the weekend, a suit for the day and he might ask you for a cigarette. When a charming, innocent woman enters, will they find love before the grim butler lurking in the shadows calls time?
A light-hearted, surreal fable from South Korea's Daesan Award winner.
At the Oval House, 9 - 13 October.
The Oval House Theatre is situated behind Oval tube station, on Kennington Oval, ...
First, thanks to Colin Bartlett for letting me know about Korean dancers from the Robin Howard Dance Theatre performing at The Place, near Euston.
We've already missed one of the performances, which was yesterday evening: Jin-Yeob Cha, who has worked with a variety of Korean and international choreographers, including Ismael Ivo, Itzik Galili, Iztok Kovac, Kristine Jomalade, Dominique Porte (Montreal Dance Company), Micha Purucker and Katja Wachter.
Saturday night the cast will include Sun-A Lee, whose solo won the French Embassy Young Choreographer's Prize in this year's Yokohama Dance Collection. Performing Dream concerns a dancer's insomnia brought about by the building pressure to perform the following day.
To get an idea of the style of dance, watch this clip. You are warned ...
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 ...
The enigmatically titled Bicycle finishes this weekend. The play is performed by a western cast, in the English translation by Kim Ah-jeong and RB Graves, in Camden People's Theatre, an intimate space (audience capacity around 40 I would reckon) near Euston Station.
Oh Tae-Seok is known for making the audience work, skipping parts of the plot to make the viewers fill in the gaps themselves. This production helps the audience in some of that work, but without spoon-feeding them, and with only one deviation from the text, as far as I can see: for a western audience, it was helpful to have the play start with the horrific incident from the Korean war, as it sets the context which may be ...
Korean traditional dance at Asia House
25-Jul-07
Peter Corbishley reports on last week's dance event at Asia House
Thanks to some unusual traffic your reviewer arrived late enough to get a front row seat for this unique performance of seven of eleven traditional Korean dances. 'Exciting', 'beautiful', 'unexplored but most interesting' were some of the words and phrases used to introduce this production by the Korean Traditional Music Association at Asia House Wednesday 18th July 2007.
Mi-Ja Won first danced 'Scent of a woman' moving up from the ground and finally returning to the floor focused first on a series of intricate counter tensioning upper body movements before taking up a fan and rising with a more insistent musical accompaniment to dance through the available stage, sometimes with ...
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 ...
Details below:
DANCE PERFORMANCE
An Enchanting Evening of Korean Traditional Dance
Wednesday 18 July at Asia House
Introduction by Jeannie-J Kim,
Choreographed by Kil-Soon Yang
Doors 6.45, Performance 7.00-8.30pm
Followed by a drinks reception and light Korean buffet
Please note the later start time! ((I'm not quite sure why they draw this to our attention. With most of the Korean events at Asia House, by the time the audience shows up it's 7pm anyway))
Asia House presents a Korean traditional dance performance in association with the Korean Cultural Centre, UK featuring five professional dancers - Kil-Soon Yang, Mi-ja Won, Soon-im Hwang, Gil-ja Yang and Sam-young Kang. Jeannie-J Kim (Head, Korean Dance Association, LA and one of the original members of the Korean National Dance Company) will give an introduction ...