Korean dance performance to stage in French national theater

Korea National Contemporary Dance Company’s “Already Not Yet” will be on a stage in France by invitation from Theatre National de Chaillot. It is the first time since a performance by Choi Seung-hee that a Korean choreographer’s art is being staged in France. Theatre National de Chaillot is a major authoritative dance theater in not only France but in overall Europe.

Korea National Contemporary Dance Company said, “Marking the 2015-2016 Korea-France mutual exchange, ‘Already Not Yet’ of arts director Ahn Ae-soon was decided to perform at Theatre National de Chaillot.” The performance will be staged for five days from June 7 next year at a 1,200 seat theater.

“Already Not Yet,” which had its premiere in Korea last year, expresses the state of immediately after death where soul has yet to leave the body. The highlight of the performance that lasts for a total of 90 minutes is marked by seven male dancers, including Kim Dong-hyun and Cho Hyung-joon, who intensely dance for 20 minutes reflecting on their lives while waiting for death. Each dancer expresses freely their feelings on the brink of death.

Ahn said, “Through ‘Already Not Yet’ whose motif came from puppets that appear in Korea’s traditional funeral rites, we will introduce Korean modern arts’ artistic performance to France,” adding, “We believe Theatre National de Chaillot considered highly that ‘Already Not Yet’ would allow people to look into the philosophy of life and death of Asian people, and that the performance is a contemporary art that strongly highlights Korean colors.”

Before taking it to France, Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will stage “Already Not Yet” in Korea from April 24 to 26 this year. The performance was upgraded in full by complementing stage arts and picture.

kimje@donga.com