Festival for Traditional and Modern Dance

A dance festival, ``2001 Dance that Opens Tomorrow`` is held from 18th at Chongdong Theatre in Seoul.

This event which has a subtitle of ``Our Dance, Dialogue between Yesterday and Today`` is, as the subtitle indicates, a stage that connects the past and now of our traditional dance.

On 18th, there will be a performance of elders and veterans such as Chun-Heung Kim, Hyun Choi, Jae-Hee Park, and Jae-Man Chung. Chun-Heung Kim, still active in his age of 93 is the initiator of Jongmyojeryeack, the 1st major intangible cultural asset, and Choyongmu, the 37th major intangible cultural asset. He will show his unchanging passion toward dance on the stage.

Ock-Ja Oem (the initiator of the 21th, Seunjunmu) and Jae-Man Chung (the initiator of the 27th Seunmu) will each dance ``Wonhyung Salpulichum`` and ``Hunryungmu.``

The main program in which eight young dancers will participate is a stage for creative modern dances, based on Korean traditional dances. Ji-Yeon Byun, an adjunct professor at Chanwon University, will present ``Mohon`` for which Seunjunmu was based. Jee-Young Kim, a lecturer at Kwangju University, will stage ``Fusion Gutgeree`` whose foundation was derived from Kimsuack style Kyuban Gutgereechum.

Jung-Hee Baek, a professor at Hanyang University, will also present ``Street and….`` In-Sook Jang, a lecturer at Shilla University will put ``Dance of a Soul`` on the stage.

In addition, Oc-Kyung Kim (lecturer at the Korean National University of Arts)’s ``Mimyung,`` Mee-Young Lee (lecturer at Ewha Women’s University)’s ``Tae``, Young-Ran Choi (professor at Mokwon University)’s ``Hoehyang``, and In-Sook Chang (professor at Jeonbuk National University)’s ``Sangsaeg`` will follow as well.

In particular, Ock-Ja Oem and Jee-Yeon Byun, who will perform side by side, are mother and daughter. Byun who was born on the day when Oem was designated as the initiator of Seunjunmu, learned Seungjunmu from her mother.

There will be a designated time during which the performers and audiences will have dialogues after each day of performance. The performance will continue until 30th, 7:30 PM (no performance on 21st, 24th, 27th, and 28th). Fee: 15.000~ 30.000 won. 02-773-8960.

Kim Gab-Sik gskim@donga.com