Performing arts festivals lined up for fall

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Three major performing arts festivals featuring diverse works from theatrical works to modern dances are slated for October and November.

They are Seoul International Dance Festival, Seoul Performing Arts Festival, and World Festival of National Theaters.

With troupes around the world participating, the festivals provide a chance for Koreans to enjoy diverse works and catch current arts trends around the world right here at home.

Also taking place next week is Seoul Performing Arts Market. The annual event is where international production companies for various theatrical and dance works and buyers gather to buy and sell shows, as well as to share their ideas.



Seoul International Dance Festival

The 12th annual Seoul International Dance Festival runs through Oct. 24 at Seoul Arts Center, Seogang University`s Mary Hall and Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center.

Hosted by the Seoul Section of the International Dance Council CID-UNESCO, the event, since being launched in 1998, has been introducing fresh contemporary dance to local audiences.

Around 40 dance troupes from 15 countries including Korea, Italy and Spain are presenting their works at this year`s event, which opened Monday.

Two entries based on "Romeo and Juliet" -- "Romeo and Juliet" by Italy`s Compagnia Aterballetto and "Radio and Juliet" by SNG Maribor Ballet of Slovenia -- are noteworthy, said a SIDance official.

Compagnia Aterballetto`s "Romeo and Juliet," set to Prokofiev`s music, differentiates from the original story by focusing only on the main roles, Romeo and Juliet.

Excluding other characters from the narrative, the work, which will close the festival, puts on stage 10 couples of the two. The ballet especially spotlights human love, an energy that could sometimes drive situations into a crisis, said the SIDance official.

The work is the brainchild of the troupe`s artistic director and principal choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti. He is often called the "Latin (William) Forsythe," for his style that emphasizes energy, physicalness and sensuality. Renowned video artist Fabrizio Plessi united with Bigonzetti for the work.

"Romeo and Juliet" will be staged on Oct. 23 and 24 at Goyang Aram Nuri Theater in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Tickets run from 20,000 won to 90,000 won.

"Radio and Juliet" is a unique reinterpretation of "Romeo and Juliet" by setting the ballet to modern music by British rock band, Radiohead. The work brings in minimalist choreography directed by Edward Clug, an up-and-coming Slovenian choreographer who has been working with leading European dance troupes.

"The poetic lyrics and emotional melodies of Radiohead`s tunes harmonize perfectly with Clug`s choreography," said the SIDance official.

"Radio and Juliet" hits stage Oct. 15 at Seoul Arts Center`s Towol Theater. Tickets are from 20,000 won to 80,000 won.

For further details on SIDance, call (02) 3216-1185 or go to www.sidance.org



Seoul Performing Arts Festival

The 9th Seoul Performing Arts Festival kicks off Tuesday and continues through Nov. 21, combining high technology and performing arts, under the title, "Analog & Digilog."

The fest takes place at a number of theaters in Seoul -- Arco Arts Theater, Daehangno Arts Theater, Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Myeongdong Theater and Namsan Arts Center.

The annual event has introduced performing arts works of diverse genres since 2001. This year, it will highlight the current trend of blurring genres and their convergence with high technology like animation and video.

Canada`s "Norman (A Tribute to Norman McLaren)," which will be staged Oct. 26 and 27 at Daehangno Arts Theater, is one of the representative works of the festival that transforms analogue art into a digital one, according to SPAF organizers.

The work features 4-D reinterpretations of the works of the late McLaren, a noted Canadian animator and film director, with the moves of dancer and actor Peter Trosztmer.

Two creative directors, Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, well-known figures in multidisciplinary art in the country, produced the show.

Tickets for "Norman" run from 20,000 won to 50,000 won.

"A Dance Tribute to the Art of Football," slated for Nov. 20 and 21 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, deals with the theme of soccer.

Staged by Norway`s Jo Stromgren Kompani, the piece takes a fresh format, dismantling the boundary between sports and dance. It portrays unexpected events that happen in soccer matches, with a hint of humor.

Tickets for "A Dance Tribute to the Art of Football" are from 20,000 won to 50,000 won.

Call (02) 3673-2561 or visit www.spaf.or.kr for more information on SPAF.



World Festival of National Theaters

The 2009 World Festival of National Theaters, which opened in September, continues through Nov. 4, with some of the festival`s main performances still to come.

National Changgeuk (Korean traditional opera) Company stages its original show, "Red Cliff" from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 at the National Theater.

"Red Cliff" is based on the well-known "pansori" (a traditional form of Korean musical theater), "Jeokbyeokga," which tells the story of Chinese historical legend of the Battle of Red Cliffs. The work combines dynamic moves, eye-catching stage settings, plus humor.

Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company will stage "The Moon," which mixes taekwondo and dance at the national theater, Oct. 16-18.

Created by veteran choreographer Cho Heung-dong who now serves as the artistic director of the troupe, the non-verbal performance introduces the origin and development of taekwondo which has come to represent Korea.

Tickets for "The Moon" are from 20,000 won to 50,000 won.

For more information on the feat, call (02) 2280-4115 or go to www.ntok.go.kr

(youngaah@heraldm.com)



By Koh Young-aah