Dramatic and emotionally-charged musicals from Germany appeal to Korean sensibilitiesThis year Korea will produce one of the largest numbers of German musicals in the world.Ever since the musical boom in the early 2000s, Korea has looked mostly to Broadway for inspiration, but is now turning its gaze to Europe.German imports “Elisabeth,” “Rebecca” and “Mozart!” have hit stages to roaring success, and are holding their own against tried-and-true American staples such as “Wicked,” “Chicago” and “H

July 11, 2012

Gwangju Biennale announced a full roster of artists, directors and the theme for this year’s edition that will help establish itself as a highlight event for contemporary art in Asia. Asian artists account for almost half of the total 92 participating artists, whose countries of origin range from Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and China to Korea. “We selected 44 Asian artists and six female Asian directors in order to solidify the image of the event as the representative cultu

July 10, 2012

Newly promoted principal dancer Seo Hee to perform the lead roleFour years after the American Ballet Theatre charmed Seoulites with “Don Quixote” and “Rabbit and Rogue” in 2008, the renowned American troupe is back in Seoul this month to showcase their romantic ballet “Giselle.”The upcoming run is stirring even more excitement as the company’s Korean-born member Seo Hee, who is to perform the lead role, was promoted to principal member on Friday. She is the first Korean dancer to hold the positi

July 10, 2012

U.S. B-boy crew Massive Monkees Crew won the 2012 R-16 World B-boy Masters Championship, beating out two-time champions JinJo Crew of Korea. More than 200 B-boys from 16 countries participated in the tournament held from July 7-8 at Olympic Hall in Bangi-dong, southern Seoul.For the battle competition, five renowned B-boy judges from different parts of the world judged the teams on foundation, dynamics, execution, battle and originality. Only eight teams ― Korea, Japan, Belgium, Kazakhstan, U.S.

July 10, 2012

Korean-American singer wows TV audiences with her powerfulvoice, energetic and confident stage performanceThis is part of a series featuring new hallyu stars. ― Ed.Someone’s age or experience on the stage seems to no longer be an issue when it comes to the music industry. Britain’s Adele jumped to stardom at only 19 and U.S. singer Rihanna debuted at 16, instantly drawing international attention with her amazing voice and performances. So too, Korea’s Ailee has wowed the TV audience here with he

July 10, 2012

Korea’s legendary traditional folk dancer Gong Ok-jin died in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. She was 81.Gong, who was designated intangible cultural heritage, had been undergoing medical treatment for the last 14 years, after suffering a stroke in 1998. Born in 1931 in South Jeolla Province to a pansori artist family, Gong was once taught by the famous late modern dancer Choi Seung-hee (1911-1969) in Japan, and joined the Joseon Changgeukdan, a Korean traditional opera troupe, in

July 9, 2012

New York-based Korean artist’s work to be on permanent display at new Polish international airportAn artwork by a Korean artist will be put up for permanent display at the new airport in the Polish city of Poznan this fall, making it the second art piece to be installed at a foreign airport by a Korean artist. New York-based Korean artist Sang Nam Lee will showcase the 73-meter-wide and 3-meter-long art installation, called “Landscapic Algorithm,” in September when the third Mediations Biennale-

July 9, 2012

‘Kongchilpalsaesamryuk’ based on real-life suicide case of two young women in SeoulOn April 8, 1931, two young, sophisticated-looking women, dressed in Western clothes, approached the Yeongdeungpo train station in colonial Gyeongseong (today’s Seoul). The two walked toward the railroad tracks, smiling and cracking jokes ― as if on a picnic. When they saw a train steaming toward Incheon, however, they jumped in its path. They were killed instantly. One of two women was Hong Ok-im, the daughter of

July 9, 2012

The American Ballet Theater (ABT) has promoted its Korean-born ballerina Seo Hee to the position of principal dancer, the renowned U.S. troupe announced via its website on Friday. Seo is the first Korean dancer to hold the position. Seo’s promotion takes place just weeks before her “Giselle” Korean tour, which is scheduled to run from July 18-22.  The 26-year-old dancer joined ABT in 2004, became a member of its corps de ballet in March 2006 and was promoted to soloist in August 2010. Her repert

July 8, 2012

Modernized white porcelain works appeal to international viewers at the 18th Biennale of SydneyTwo female Korean artists are showcasing collaborative works at the 18th Biennale of Sydney, revealing the beauty of Korean white porcelain reinterpreted in a modern way for international audiences. Ceramic artist Park Young-sook and sculptor Yee Soo-kyung have collaborated in “The Moon Project,” in which Park shows her signature white porcelain pieces “Moon Jars” and Yee presents a ball-shaped sculptu

July 8, 2012

Dance“Orpheus and Eurydice”: Kim Yong-geol Dance Theater presents its original creative repertory “Orpheus and Eurydice” from July 28 to 29 at Gangdong Arts Center in Seoul. The troupe is led by former Opera de Paris dancer Kim Yong-geol, who now teaches at the Korean National University of Arts. An original piece entirely choreographed by Kim, the show tells the famous tragic love story of Orpheus and his wife Eurydice from the ancient Greek myth. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. Fo

July 6, 2012

Brown’s ‘Fortune’ is patchy albumChris Brown “Fortune” (RCA Records)One of the best songs on Chris Brown’s new album is a soft number, “Don’t Judge Me,” that finds him asking a girlfriend to look past his mistakes.“So please don’t judge me, because it can get ugly, before it gets beautiful,” he sings in his signature semi-high pitch.For another singer, such a tune might come off as just another relationship plea. But coming from the bad boy singer whose career is nearly restored after his attack

July 6, 2012

A leading South Korean musical production company said Thursday it is preparing to debut an English-language musical in London’s West End.Acom International Co., producer of hit Korean musicals “The Last Empress” and “Hero,” said it had a second workshop performance of the new musical “Woyzeck” at Charing Cross Theater in London last month.The event came after the company’s seven-year-long effort to produce something that can better appeal to global audiences. So, the production company made “Wo

July 6, 2012

 Famous faces are the focus of the latest exhibition at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong.The exhibition, titled “Visage,” features 50 portraits of well-known figures in history, including French fashion designer Coco Chanel, soprano Maria Callas as well as individuals by American and European artists.Seven artists active in North America and Europe reveal their distinctive characteristics through portraits.  Canadian artist Andre Monet recreates portraits of famous people in both avant-gard

July 5, 2012

Australian cast of hit musical energized by unexpected enthusiasmThe Australian stars of hit Broadway musical “Wicked” are having a truly wicked time in Korea. From receptive audiences to indulgent coffee houses and the graciousness of the Korean people, Jemma Rix and David Harris are spoilt for choice for highlights of their stay. Five weeks into the Korean tour, Rix, who plays the rebellious green witch Elphaba, and Harris, who plays Fiyero, her dashing love interest, have been overwhelmed by

July 5, 2012