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Category Archives: B-boys

Sorea - gugak fusion

11-Oct-08

Sorea - gugak fusion

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 ...
Also filed in Korean traditional music, Music: other, VoDs | | Comments (0) »

B-boys promote Korean tourism at KCC

23-Aug-08

B-boys promote Korean tourism at KCC

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, ...
Also filed in Event reports and reviews, Korea, Sparkling | Tagged | Comments (4) »

Korean Artists at the Edinburgh Fringe

25-Jun-08

Korean Artists at the Edinburgh Fringe

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 ...
Also filed in Dance, Edinburgh 2008, Events news, Physical theatre & mime | | Comments (2) »

North-South Korea b-boy battle

10-Jun-08

North-South Korea b-boy battle

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.
Also filed in DPRK, Strange but true, VoDs | | Comments (4) »

More Korean performances at Edinburgh Fringe

31-Jul-07
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 ...
Also filed in Dance, Edinburgh 2007, Events news, Physical theatre & mime | | Comments (0) »

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 ...
Also filed in Dance, Edinburgh 2007, Events news, Theatre | | Comments (2) »

Rivers dance for Dano

18-Jun-07

Rivers dance for Dano

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 ...
Also filed in Dano 2007, Event reports and reviews, Korean traditional music | Tagged | Comments (2) »

Some videos to persuade you to come to Trafalgar Square on Sunday

14-Jun-07
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 ...
Also filed in Dano 2007, Events news, Korean traditional music, VoDs | | Comments (3) »

From Fan dance to Breakdance for Dano festival

27-May-07
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 ...
Also filed in Dano 2007, Events news | | Comments (0) »

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 ...
Also filed in Music: K-pop, VoDs | | Comments (1) »

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 ...
Also filed in Event reports and reviews, Physical theatre & mime | Tagged | Comments (0) »

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. Related posts:Jump with B-boys Just spotted this new show advertised in Time Out. It’s...The Korean breakdancing scene The talent on display at the Peacock at the moment...Some pictures of Insadong As I’ve been on a plane for what feels like... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Also filed in Events news | | Comments (4) »

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 ...
Also filed in Events news, Performance arts | Tagged | Comments (2) »

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. Related posts:Traditional Music masterclass at the Roundhouse For those not up to an afternoon’s breakdancing, there’s a...Charity concert at Asia House A charity concert in aid of Korea Foundation for World...The Korean breakdancing scene The talent on display at the Peacock at the moment... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Also filed in Events news, Music: K-pop | | Comments (0) »

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: Related posts:Dramatic pictures of Chuseok at the BM Samuel Cho has a great collection of photos from the...Some good pictures Firstly, some photos from 1970s Seoul. Commentary on Antti Leppänen’s...From Fan dance to Breakdance for Dano festival For those who missed the Korean breakdancers when they came... Related ...
Also filed in Lee Young-ae, Pictures, Seoul, Travel | | Comments (1) »