Balletic Breakin'

The wildly popular “Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma” video on YouTube features a strange and lovely fusion of romantic music and urban dancing (see “25 to Watch,” page 36). Rather than the clichéd juxtaposition of opposites (fashion model in construction rubble), Ma and Lil Buck are a carefully crafted couple put together by Damian Woetzel. Instead of city streets or cipher we see a garden. Rather than slammin’ beats, hard-core raps, and posses, Ma plays Saint-Saëns’ cello solo Le Cygne while Lil Buck (Charles Riley) performs his jookin’ interpretation of Anna Pavlova’s The Dying Swan, choreographed by Michel Fokine in 1905. The director Spike Jonze just happened to video this benefit performance for public school arts programs and posted it on YouTube, where it has gotten more than one and a half million hits since April.


Riley matches the cello’s notes with unhurried grace, flowing from one point to another, echoing Pavlova with his birdlike toe perches, rippling arms, and, finally, the way he gently melts into the floor. However, because Riley is a well-known Memphis jooker who learned largely on the streets, a question is circulating in the dance world: “Is hip hop going classical?” The answer is: “Sure. Hip hoppers and ballet dancers have been getting it on for a long time.”


Ballet and hip hop (used here as an umbrella term covering myriad forms from breaking to uprock, toprock, popping, locking to newer forms like jookin’ and turf dancing) have co-existed onstage since the late 1970s. In a recent phone conversation, Jorge “PopMaster Fabel” Pabon of the legendary Rock Steady Crew pointed out that the most famous early alliance occurred in 1978 on Saturday Night Live. That’s when Toni Basil paired four of The Lockers (including Don Campbell, father of locking) with four ballet dancers (including New York City Ballet’s Stephanie Saland) in the Four Little Swans variation from Swan Lake. Dressed in white from pimp hats to shoes, four guys locked and popped alongside four women on pointe, transforming the cygnets’ quartet into a witty octet. Basil repeated the concept, mixing the street-dance style to include locking and boogaloo with classical dancers in another Swan Lake on The New Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, which was nominated for an Emmy in 1988.

2012 25 to Watch

Eun Jung Choi’s restless appetite to learn more and experience the new has kept her moving around the globe. Diving into evolving dance forms and media, she makes work that’s conceptually smart, physically exploratory, and virtuosically performed. Fresh out of the North Carolina School of the Arts, with a background in traditional dance from her native Korea, Choi’s lithe elegance and gutsiness landed her a spot in the Limón Dance Company. But visa troubles intervened and she wound up immersed in downtown New York dance and earned a master’s in interactive telecommunications.


Now based in Philadelphia, Choi integrates technology with dance in organic ways. She goes for the visceral, the animalistic. With her Mexican husband, Guillermo Ortega Tanus, she performs goofy and ever-so-human duets, strong on intricate partnering and playful visual surrounds. We’ll see how these interests collide in her newest work for five of Philly’s most intriguing dancers, which she’ll show in progress in March at the Second Thursdays series of the Live Arts Brewery, where she’s a Fellow for the 2011–12 season. —Lisa Kraus

Innovative Choreographers

In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service pays tribute to four influential choreographers who changed the art of dance: Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Katherine Dunham, and Bob Fosse. Designed to look like posters advertising a performance, the stamp art captures the luminosity and mystery of a live dance performance.

The stamp design for Isadora Duncan reflects her interest in classical Greek dance forms and shows the seemingly effortless style that she developed. Radical for its time, her linking of movement and expressiveness garnered her worldwide critical acclaim.

José Limón is shown in a performance pose. He frequently drew inspiration from history, literature, and religion, and used natural movement and gesture in his choreography. His virile, powerful works elevated the importance of the male dancer in modern dance. Many of Limón’s works are considered classics and continue to be performed today.

Founder of one of the first African-American dance companies in the United States, Katherine Dunham was the first choreographer to develop a formal dance technique that combined Caribbean and African dance elements with aspects of ballet. She is shown in a pose from her critically acclaimed ballet L’Ag’Ya.

Bob Fosse, celebrated for directing and choreographing musicals on both stage and screen, is shown on the set of Sweet Charity (1969). Fosse received one Oscar, three Emmys, and nine Tony awards during his career. Yet perhaps his greatest contribution was in making dance accessible to millions.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps using illustrations by James McMullan, widely known for his work for Lincoln Center Theater in New York City.

The Innovative Choreographers stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

"인간의 춤을 추라”시던 선생님의 음성 귓가에 생생

한 사람의 생을 결정짓는 데 어느 것 하나 중요하지 않은 것이 없지만, 나는 그중에서도 훌륭한 스승과의 만남이 전 생애의 가치를 결정짓는 데 가장 중요한 역할을 한다는 생각을 갖고 있다. 훌륭한 스승과의 만남은 정신과의 만남이다. 돌이켜보면 내게 스승인 마사 그레이엄과의 만남은 그 정신과의 만남이었다. 나는 아직도 “인간의 춤을 추라”시던 그레이엄 선생님의 음성을 기억하고 있다. 인간의 춤은 오늘을 살아가는 우리 시대의 춤, 현대무용의 이상이 아닐까.

Dreaming Clown: Kim Myung-gon’s Autobiography

Former culture minister Kim Myung-gon has published an autobiography, elaborating on his various experiences with the arts and government. His most recent artistic endeavor was producing “Endless Voyage,” an upcoming performance mixing ballet and traditional Korean dance.

Kim is a renowned ‘pansori’ (traditional Korean opera) performer, actor and producer as well as former president of the National Theater of Korea. The late former President Roh Moo-hyun appointed him culture minister in 2006.

But Kim is still mostly known for his role in the film “Seopyeonje” by filmmaker Im Kwon-taek in the early 1990s. Kim also wrote the scenario for the film.

“I have done a lot of work in theater and in film since then, but they are mostly overshadowed by the role I played in ’Seopyeonje.’ The character of Yu-bong and I shared the same sense of alienation, pain and failures as pansori artists, so it was a role that I could completely sympathize with,” he said.

He recollects his ties with the administrations of Roh and the late Kim Dae-jung, both of whom were ardent patrons of the arts with a keen in interest in traditional Korean culture.

During Kim Dae-jung’s presidency, Kim led the National Theater of Korea and the former President and his wife Lee Hee-ho attended performances there. Kim calls the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient “a president with astonishing cultural knowledge and the best audience member I have ever met.”

Impact of English on late Joseon

By Do Je-hae

Korea is a nation obsessed with English. It is an important tool for promotion at workplaces and some universities such as Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) are adopting it as the official language in the office and on campus.

There has also been some public debate about whether this country, which has no colonial experience with an English-speaking country, should adopt English as a second official language to promote globalization.

“English Awakens Joseon,” a two-part series by journalist Kim Young-cheol, provides a detailed historical reference on how English entered the country during the late Joseon Kingdom (1392-1897) and how it has impacted Korean society.

Kim writes for the city desk of one of Korea’s major news dailies. He majored in diplomacy at Seoul National University.

This book is particularly useful for diplomats, students and professors in international relations because they are very informative about how the Joseon elite used English in dealing with foreign powers.

“The book is intriguing in that it takes a look at Korea’s modern history through its relationship with English and English-speaking countries. It would be enlightening for Koreans working in the international stage,” Lee Yong-joon, Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia, said in the introduction of the book.

Japan Returns Looted Documents after 100 Years

It`s easy to get robbed but trying to reclaim lost items is quite a different matter, not to mention it may take ages for them to be returned. On December 6, however, a pile of books did return. On this day, Japan gave back 1,200 ancient Korean books.



These books had been stored at Japan`s Imperial Household Agency after they were taken away during the Japanese colonial period. They include 167 volumes of 81 royal protocols, called uigwe, of the Joseon Dynasty; 938 volumes of 66 titles taken by then Resident-General Ito Hirobumi; 99 volumes of two editions of “Jeungbo munheon bigo” (Expanded Reference Compilation of Documents); and one volume of “Daejeon hoetong” (Comprehensive Collection of National Codes).



In October, on the occasion of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda`s visit, Japan returned “Daerye uigwe” (The Royal Protocol on Grand Wedding, 1 volume), “Wangseja garye dogam uigwe” (The Royal Protocol on the Wedding of Crown Prince, 2 volumes) and “Jeongmyo eoje” (Handwritten Texts by King Jeongjo, 2 volumes).

Making It Happen: Dance Majors Speak Up

In 2009, six years into teaching her “Critical Issues in Dance” course at University of California, Irvine, professor Jennifer Fisher felt a nagging frustration. While all of her students loved to perform, she struggled to convince them that they could also find joy and self-expression in writing about dance. “I kept asking myself how I could get them interested in analysis,” she reflects, “when they’d rather be in the studio perfecting their pirouettes.” Prior to pursuing careers in journalism and academia, Fisher had been a dancer herself, and experience had taught her the importance of being able to discuss dance intelligently and outside of the studio. She wanted to empower her students with this ability, but was hard-pressed to find a point of entry.


One day, she asked a simple question: “What kind of a reaction do you get when you tell people you’re a dance major?”


“The temperature in the room went up,” she remembers, and “the floodgates opened.” Animated students were eager to share their stories, and responses followed a similar tune. Students had heard, “What are you going to do with that?” or “That must be fun,” or “Hmmm, you must be very flexible.” Such comments, they felt, belittled their commitment to their daily mental and physical work. However, when Fisher asked how they had cleared up these misconceptions, the room fell quiet. Few had spoken up for themselves at the moment of being criticized. Few knew what to say. Realizing she had struck a nerve, Fisher gave her first assignment: “How do you make people understand why dance is worth studying at university?”

쟁강춤

춤꾼 넷, 한국 춤과 발레 경계를 허물다

"이제 나이가 됐으니까요." 서른넷 발레리나는 '끝없는 항해'를 시작하게 된 이유로 나이를 들었다. 국립발레단에서 수석무용수로 춤춘 지 13년, 김주원은 "감정을 어느 정도 표현할 수 있게 된 지금 나이에, 발레뿐 아니라 한국 무용으로도 도전 영역을 넓혀보고 싶었다"고 말했다.

김주원이 서는 무대는 국립무용단 수석무용수 이정윤(35)이 안무를 맡은 '4색(色)여정-Endless Voyage'. 유니버설발레단 수석무용수인 황혜민(34)과 엄재용(33)까지 함께 오른다. 국내 대표 무용수인 네 사람은 지난해 공연한 '이정윤&에투왈' 등 갈라(gala:여러 작품의 주요 장면을 모은 공연) 공연에 같이 나온 적은 있으나 한 작품에 출연하는 것은 이번이 처음이다.

프랑스 현대무용가 '셀린 바케'를 매료시킨 한국 전통 춤은?

[윤혜영 인턴기자] 최근 케이팝, 한식 등의 세계화가 결실을 맺으며 한국 문화에 대한 관심이 크게 높아진 가운데, 젊은 프랑스 무용가의 눈으로 바라본 우리 고유의 춤이 방송을 통해 집중 조명된다.

tvN 스페셜 '코리아 랩소디' 2부 ‘셀린의 무전(舞傳)여행’에서 10년 째 살풀이를 배워 온 프랑스 현대 무용가, ‘셀린 바케’를 통해 한국 전통 춤의 멋과 의미를 다루는 것.

셀린 바케(Celine Bacque)는 파리 국립고등무용원 현대 무용 과정을 밟고 뉴욕 트리사 브라운 무용단에서 활동한 바 있는 박사 출신 무용가. 유럽, 미국, 아프리카, 아시아 등 세계 각지를 돌며 독립 아티스트들과 공연을 하는 등 활발한 활동을 펼치고 있다.

셀린 바케가 살풀이, 승무 등 한국 전통 춤과 인연을 맺고 이 땅에 정착한지는 벌써 10년째. 예인들의 넘치는 열정과 한없이 인간적인 우리의 춤을 좀 더 면밀히 들여다보기 위해 각 지역 무형문화재를 찾아 나섰다.

당대 양반들의 부패를 풍자하고 서민의 애환을 담은 ‘통영오광대’를 비롯해, 장쾌한 ‘진주검무’, 새의 움직임을 율동으로 표현해낸 ‘동래학춤’ 등 우리 고유의 춤과 만나, 한국 춤의 정신을 전할 예정이다.

셀린 바케는 “한국의 전통 춤과 악기는 큰 에너지를 느끼게 한다. 한국 전통 예술이 21세기를 사는 외국인에게 어떻게 이런 감정을 줄 수 있는지 의문일 정도”라며 “장엄하면서도 우아하고 고귀함을 느낄 수 있다”고 평가했다.

한편 tvN 스페셜 '코리아 랩소디'는 지난 12월31일 방송된 1편 '한혜진의 서울, 걷다’를 비롯해, 1월7일에 방송되는 2편 '셀린바케의 무전여행', 1월14일에 방송되는 3편 '하림의 굿 아일랜드'까지 총 3부작으로 구성된다.

연기, 노래, 춤 등에서 실력을 인정 받은 셀럽 3인이 여행을 통해 우리나라 고유의 정서와 가치를 현대적으로 재해석하며 한국의 멋을 담아낼 예정이다. (사진제공: CJ E&M)

한경닷컴 bnt뉴스 기사 제보 star@bntnews.co.kr

Director's Notes: Dancing for the Punk Ballerina

By Rachel F. Elson
Published in the December 2011/January 2012 issue.


This may come as a bit of a surprise: The woman who choreographed Madonna’s music video for “Vogue” says she doesn’t care about poses.

For choreographer Karole Armitage, single silhouettes are just points on a line. “I’m not interested in positions, I’m interested in the path between them,” explains Armitage, who is known as much for her eclectic movement style as for her collaborations with artists ranging from Jeff Koons to Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The onetime “punk ballerina” has spent the last seven years developing her own contemporary ballet company, Armitage Gone! Dance, in New York City. Her 10 highly distinctive dancers represent six nationalities and eight languages, and range from just over five feet to close to seven. But as diverse as they are, ballet is both their common vocabulary and point of departure.

Teacher's Wisdom: Betty Jones

In 1947, Betty Jones became a founding member and principal dancer of the José Limón Dance Company, creating roles such as Desdemona opposite Limón’s Moor in his classic work, The Moor’s Pavane. She danced in the company for 20 years. And for another 20 she served on the faculties of the Juilliard School and the American Dance Festival. She is artistic co-director of Dances We Dance Company and has taught and restaged Humphrey/Limón repertoire throughout the U.S., Europe, Russia and Asia. When at home in Honolulu, she teaches at Moiliili Community Center. —Carol Egan


What were classes with José Limón like? José was incredible for creating movement phrases, but often didn’t pay as much attention to their preparation. Pauline Lawrence, his wife, played the piano for class and would make asides, correcting the students. He would do pliés, tendus, and some swings, and then get on with movement combinations, which was his real interest. He worked with isolations, calling them the “voices of the body.” He talked about the body as an “orchestra.” He and Doris Humphrey, his mentor, spoke constantly about the contrast between Apollonian and Dionysian qualities.


Did you follow his style when you first started teaching? For about 10 years I taught pretty much the same way because I was assisting him at Juilliard. But then I met Lulu Sweigard (a kinesiologist who also taught at Juilliard). At first I thought, what does anatomy have to do with dance? To me dancing was of the spirit. But I soon realized I was teaching very poorly and ended up becoming her assistant for 13 years.


April 2005 Issue

Nikolais Louise Foundation for Dance

UNESCO to Mark Chosun Scholar's Anniversary

The year 2012 marks the 250th birthday of one of the greatest scholars of the late Chosun Dynasty, Jeong Yak-yong (1762-1836), also known by his pen name Dasan, and the new year will be filled with events celebrating this renaissance man.

Since 2004, UNESCO has been designating associated anniversaries of global event or great figures that are in line with the values and spirits of the organization, and this is the first time a Korean has been picked. Jeong's 250th anniversary was added to the list in October last year along with next year's 400th anniversary of the publication of traditional medical encyclopedia "Donguibogam."

In Korea, a committee will organize various events, international conferences, exhibitions and music festivals celebrating Jeong's anniversary.

Searching for a spouse: potential vs. perfection

By James Lee

I recently visited one of my company’s offices and witnessed a match consultant on the phone having a very difficult time. I found out that the person that had called was a female client’s mother. The mother had called to complain that the man the matchmaker had introduced to her daughter was not suitable. The matchmaker told me that the mother had already rejected many of the men previously selected as prospective mates, including highly educated and accomplished doctors and Ph. D holders.

I wondered how amazing her daughter must be for her to be so demanding. I found out that she was just from an ordinary family and went to a regular college.

The current situation for single men is often similar. There was a case of one man who always claimed that he would be satisfied with an average woman, but when he actually met a woman he became very picky and critical, complaining about minor flaws and focusing on the areas that did not match his standards. This man’s father was even pickier than his son. I thought it may be impossible to find this man a suitable spouse.

It is a common occurrence, and this is a problem. It is difficult for most people to view themselves objectively and they are quick to judge and find fault with others while overlooking their own shortcomings or less desirable qualities. As a result, people tend to think that they are superior to others or that someone doesn’t measure up to them or doesn’t deserve them.

2012 what a wonderful

As the clock struck 12 at midnight, Ludhiana sprung into life as residents burst crackers and hollered New Year wishes at the top of their voices to welcome 2012. Parties, get-togethers and cultural events were held across the city but the one that hogged limelight was the South Korean dance groups 'matkas' and 'jhatkas' that shook Ludhianivis, setting a precedence of sorts.

The traditional dance performance of South Korean Traditional Art Performance group Hata at a local mall along Ferozepur Road was appreciated so much by people that they couldn't stop raving about the group. They grooved and gushed, got pictures clicked and took videos of the performance.

Hata was in city as part of the cultural exchange programme and performed at the Punjab International Folk Festival presented by Punjab Cultural Promotion Council and Ghungroo Musical Club.

Chinese Ethnic Dance: A Window Into China’s Diversity (4 of 9)

NEW YORK—Contrary to a common misconception, the Chinese are not one uniform ethnicity. There are actually 55 officially recognized ethnic groups in China, and the distinct traits of each are shaped by the local climate, natural environment, and spiritual traditions.

These traits, in turn, are embedded into each group’s unique styles of dance, which are very rich and diverse. Therefore, the ethnic dances of the vast Chinese minorities are distinct from the systematic school of classical Chinese dance and the Chinese folk dance of the ethnic Han majority.

Presenting the ethnic dances of Chinese minorities on stage is one of the hallmarks of New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts. Founded in 2006, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture, which was believed to be divinely inspired.

SAC ignites fine arts 'hallyu' via ballet

‘Endless Voyage’ to showcase Lee’s original choreography

By Lee Hyo-won

Many arts and culture experts point out how narrow-sighted it is to think that K-pop and TV dramas are all there is to “hallyu” (Korean wave) content, and an arts center is stepping forward to explore the possibilities of fine art genres such as dance.

With this is mind, Seoul Arts Center (SAC) will open the New Year by inviting stars of top Korean dance troupes to perform together this week.

“Endless Voyage,” to be staged Wednesday and Thursday at the Opera Theater, will not only provide a rare opportunity to see principal dancers of the National Dance Company of Korea, Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) and Universal Ballet Company (UBC) on the same stage, but also premiere original choreography, sets and music by some of the country’s iconic artists.

During the past couple of years the local arts scene witnessed an unprecedented “ballet fever”: local productions enjoyed sell-out performances for the first time and also garnered mainstream appeal through popular TV programs featuring dance, while budding young Korean talent triumphed in international competitions and forayed into top-tier companies.

There have been many gala shows featuring highlights of popular ballet productions or local premieres of modern imports catering to the growing number of fans — but rarely has there been such an ambitious project showcasing something altogether new.

Inauguration: Poet Kealoha