For Kim Bo-ram -- dancer, choreographer and artistic director of Ambiguous Dance Company -- the 15th anniversary of “Body Concert,” his enduring work of contemporary dance, is significant in many ways.

Running from Wednesday through March 9 at Seoul Arts Center’s CJ Towol Theater, the milestone production marks not just a celebration of its 15-year legacy but also another test of endurance for Kim and his dancers -- a relentless physical challenge with 15 scheduled performances.

“The dance itself is absolutely grueling,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Herald earlier this month at the dance studio in Seoul.

“We call it ‘Body Hell’ or ‘Concert Hell.’ The piece is so intense that it pushes and pushes dancers to the edge. We’ve been rehearsing eight to 10 hours a day, which is tough enough, but what makes it even harder is that some of us have been performing this work for five or six years. I’ve been doing it for 15. Even though we know every step by heart, we’re still rehearsing as if it’s our first time. That’s what makes it feel like hell.”

For many, Ambiguous Dance Company is best known for its collaboration with alternative pop group Leenalchi on the viral “Feel the Rhythm of Korea” campaign for the Korea Tourism Organization in 2020. The group’s bold, colorful costumes, signature hats and sunglasses, and unpredictable moves set to a hypnotic rhythm became a defining visual.

But “Body Concert” predates that fame, standing as a classic in Korea’s contemporary dance scene. Since its premiere at Seoul’s Arko Arts Theater in 2010, the production has become one of the most frequently staged contemporary dance works in the country. It has even been described as “an ideal introduction to contemporary dance for the general public.”

Structured like a live concert, the work evokes deep emotions that ultimately transcend the limits of both the human body and the art of dance. Dressed in swim caps, sunglasses, sharp suits and mismatched colorful socks, the dancers take the stage for an immersive performance set to an 11-track setlist that spans an eclectic range -- from pop and punk to works by Bach and Korean ballads.

“It’s an incredibly accessible work. Because it doesn’t follow a fixed narrative, both children and adults can enjoy it in their own way,” said Kim. “The music isn’t difficult. It’s something you’ve heard before, but paired with movements you’ve never seen -- that’s part of the fun.”

Pushing the limits for heightened perception

Kim described “Body Concert” as an intense physical trial for the dancers, who push their bodies to the limit for 70 minutes of constant, rigorous motion.

"It's about the human body, about the extreme physicality of movement and what the body is capable of. And beyond that, it’s a reflection on the significance of the body in our rapidly evolving world.”

As artificial intelligence and robotic technologies advance at an astonishing pace, Kim wondered what this means for the human body.

"While machines are evolving at breakneck speed, our bodies are regressing. We seek convenience, we move less, we use our bodies less. But I think we need to ‘move’ alongside technology rather than be left behind."

So his ultimate goal is for the audience to experience this expansion of sense together.

“’Body Concert’ and Ambiguous Dance Company’s work mostly lean into something raw and primal. We want to push the body to its limits, amplifying sensations to the extreme,” said Kim.

“Think about how time seems to slow in moments of shock or crisis -- your senses are sharpened and you perceive everything differently. We try to create that kind of heightened state through movement and music, in the hope that the audience, too, even briefly, will feel their perception expand.”

Beyond the sheer physical toll, staging a 15-performance run is a rare feat in the contemporary dance scene, especially without external funding.

"It’s difficult to explain, but sometimes you know there’s only one path forward, even when you’re fully aware of how difficult, even impossible, it might be," Kim said. "For us, performing at Seoul Arts Center is rare, and we all see it as a challenge worth taking on. We’re putting everything on the line, even if it means failing."

"And please note, the odds of failure are high,” Kim said sheepishly. “But if failure is what we need, then we’ll embrace it. We knew from the start that this might not work. But I personally think as long as we give everything, we haven’t failed at all."

“I feel fortunate that this work has been loved for 15 years,” Kim said, adding he hopes people will continue to enjoy it in 10 or 20 years, just as they enjoy Van Gogh’s paintings. He already has plans laid out for the piece’s next anniversary.

“I have so many ideas I want to do, so in that sense, we really haven’t done anything yet. This 15th anniversary is just the beginning for us.”

Following the Seoul run, the show will head to five cities in France and Switzerland in March and April.