When dancers speak

Dancers rarely get to speak on stage, and there is a reason for it. It’s not impossible, but it’s difficult.Celebrated ballerina Kim Ji-young on Tuesday breathed heavily at the Jayu Theater of Seoul Arts Center, after performing a one-minute scene from the popular romantic ballet “Giselle.” She couldn’t speak for more than 10 seconds, as she could barely catch her breath. “There is a reason why ballets don’t have any lines,” she said. “I pretty much didn’t breathe at all for the past minute.” As

PerformanceDec. 11, 2013

Christmas and New Year’s Eve retreats at hotels

With Christmas just around the corner, hotels in Seoul, decked in lavish Christmas decorations, are gearing up to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day with luxurious accommodation and dinner packages. Splendid Christmas decorations greet guests in the lobbies and restaurants, raising the festive spirits. Many of the city’s five-star hotels boast of their own unique Christmas decorations and Millennium Seoul Hilton’s 18-year-long decorating tradition ― featuring a Christmas tree 10 meters high

TravelDec. 11, 2013

Oliversweet offers classic desserts with a delectable twist

If succulent Earl Grey and grapefruit cake and richly moist strawberry red velvet cake with plush cream cheese frosting spells heaven on earth, then the mouthwatering offerings of Oliversweet are truly a sweet tooth’s dream come true. Specializing in sophisticated yet cozy boutique-style pastries and catering, Oliversweet opened its doors in 2007 and since then the quaint dessert shop that boasts some of the city’s most inventive approaches to classic homemade treats has expanded to four locatio

FoodDec. 11, 2013

Growing trend for 2014: Orchid as top color

NEW YORK (AP) ― Orchid is growing on us: A version of the purple hue is Pantone Inc.’s color of the year for 2014.It follows this year’s pick of emerald green.Officially known as Radiant Orchid, the tropical shade is a color-wheel contrast to green, said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, but it’s not the red that would have been a more obvious choice. “It’s a little different, it’s a little off the beaten path, and it’s not a primary color,’’ she explains. “It’

Arts & DesignDec. 11, 2013

Icederby to hold races in Dubai

An ice derby of skating races will be held in Dubai in May next year. Icederby International, a Seoul-based theme park developer, said that it agreed with the Dubai authorities Thursday to stage ice derby Grand Prix races as an event to commemorate the Middle Eastern emirate’s successful bid to host the 2020 World Expo. It also plans to hold ice shows and K-pop performances alongside the derby. An ice derby is a professional skating race held on a 220-meter track, which is shorter than that for

PeopleDec. 11, 2013

[Photo News] Best airport

PeopleDec. 11, 2013

Sohee likely to end contract with JYP Entertainment

Wonder Girls member Sohee reportedly is set to end her contract with her current agency JYP Entertainment. According to local media reports. Sohee held a secret meeting with another agency specializing in acting as the termination of her existing contract is just around the corner.  “The contract with Sohee ends on Dec. 21 and we have decided to respect her decision to focus on her acting career after much discussion,” JYP Entertainment said in a press release.The contract with the other Wonder

Dec. 11, 2013

Suzy’s contract with JYP to expire in 2017

Suzy, a top-rated South Korean star, is expected to maintain an exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment through March of 2017, according to the agency’s public disclosure filings for investors. Suzy, a member of K-pop girl group Miss A, is one of the most lucrative talents discovered and nurtured by JYP Entertainment, which is listed on the KOSDAQ stock market. She is single-handedly dominating the television ad market by grabbing all the major modeling roles for big advertisers. Featuring Suz

Dec. 11, 2013

CGV, Lotte refuse to show new ‘Hobbit’ film in fee dispute

The latest installment of “The Hobbit” topped the charts Wednesday, even though Korean audiences cannot watch the film at theaters in Seoul run by CGV and Lotte Cinema. CGV posted an apology on their official website on the problems with screening the film: “The distributor of the film Warner Bros demanded a raise in the profit-sharing ratio in theaters in Seoul and we have refused.” Lotte Cinema also refused, meaning the film was not shown at its theaters in the capital area. With CGV and Lotte

FilmDec. 11, 2013

Skills over fun?

Double-clutch layups and breakaway slam dunks are not the usual repertoire of basketball shows on South Korean TV. But with Kim Hyuk, you’ve got another thing coming.The 32-year-old South Korean actor is wowing the viewers and even his teammates on the celebrity basketball team appearing in KBS’s “Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education” with his performance on the court. With Kim dominating the court, however, some are complaining that the KBS show has lost its initial concept of “average

TelevisionDec. 11, 2013

‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ takes to stage

Expats looking for a bit of Christmas fun could consider a visit to “The Nightmare Before Christmas” location of Yuletown from this weekend, as a stage version of the film is set to take the stage.The film has been adapted for the stage by Susan Morgan, who directed Camarata Music Company’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” earlier this year and will also direct this musical.After her friend Nikolas Kite Thompson ― who will play Jack Skellington ― wheeled out his Danny Elfman impression during a

Expat LivingDec. 10, 2013

Hollaback! rallies against harassment

Lisa Betham said she still finds it hard to shake off being groped on the street of Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, during the city’s mud festival one year. As she and a friend were walking back along the beach to the motel, a group of men headed toward them, shouting in Korean. Only when they had approached did Betham realize they were just distracting her so one of them could grab her crotch. “They walked off, laughing and clearly proud of what happened,” said Betham. “I did not seek hel

Expat LivingDec. 10, 2013