The 31st International Modern Dance Festival will be held in Seoul from May 19-31 under the theme of “Focus on Body’s Movement,” the festival’s organizer, the Contemporary Dance Association of Korea, said Tuesday.

French choreographer Thomas Lebrun’s FranKorean Tale will open the festival at Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul, on May 19. Six South Korean dancers have been selected through auditions to join French dancers in the FranKorean Tale, directed by Lebrun, art director of Centre Choregraphique National de Tours.

The Korean-French collaboration will provide an opportunity to promote exchanges between South Korea and France, the organizers said.

Nineteen local and foreign dance teams will perform modern dances. Foreign participants will include France’s Ballet Preljocaj and Systeme Castafiore, Spain’s Cia Daniel Abreu and Suzanne Dellal Centre of Israel.

Nine teams will compete in the Spark Place program to give recognition to next-generation choreographers.

Performances will also be held at the National Theater and Daehangno Arts Theater. For more information, call 02-765-5352. 

(Yonhap News)