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Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Two dancers collide in dance about 'uri' -- us and cages that confine
Usher choreographer Haeni teams up with Mr. Kriss When dancer-choreographers Haeni and Kristian Mensa, who goes by the stage name Mr. Kriss, walked into the rehearsal studio for their interview, it was hard not to notice that both were dressed in earth-toned brown tops and cargo-style pants. Asked if they had coordinated for the shoot, they laughed. It was pure coincidence — and not for the first time. 'Yeah, everything. We don't need to speak, but we are connected,' the two said in near unison. The two artists first met in Seoul in early 2024, introduced through a mutual friend. Despite coming from different backgrounds, Haeni from Seoul's hip-hop and commercial dance scene, and Mr. Kriss from Prague's breaking and visual arts world, they found immediate creative synergy. 'We have similar ideas, but our ways of moving are really different. When we brought them together, we knew it would create something special,' said Mr. Kriss to a group of reporters last week. 'When we were throwing out ideas, we got excited because each time, it was something the other person also wanted to do.' Soon after, an unexpected alignment of events brought them back together. In the same week that Haeni was invited to create a piece for the Sejong Center's summer contemporary festival 'Sync Next,' a Czech music festival reached out to Mr. Kriss asking if he could propose a duo. They immediately thought of each other. Now, after their first performance together in the Czech Republic this June, they reunite for their Korean stage premiere at the Sejong Center from Aug. 14 to 16 with a new contemporary work, 'OO-LI.' The piece explores themes of identity, constraint and coexistence. The title is as layered in meaning as the work itself: pronounced "uri" in Korean, it is a homonym that plays on multiple meanings — most notably 'we/us' and 'cage.' 'We were playing with words that have multiple meanings,' said Haeni. 'When I said 'uri,' Kriss immediately loved it. It's about togetherness, but also about being confined and that felt instinctively powerful.' 'And how it's written is really visual, with circles and lines. We wanted something universal, a little mysterious, something that makes people ask: 'What does it mean?'' added Mr. Kriss. The pair held an open audition, selecting 28 dancers from diverse backgrounds and genres. Each dancer embodies a fragment of the choreographers' inner worlds. Alongside Haeni and Mr. Kriss, the performers will share the stage, colliding, converging and coexisting through movement. Their choreographic styles, while quite the opposite, complement each other. 'We joke that we're yin and yang,' said Haeni, whose movement style leans sculptural and introspective. Mr. Kriss, rooted in breaking, brings an explosive, physical edge. 'OO-LI' marks a first for both dancers in different ways. For Haeni, it is her longest choreographic work and her debut piece for the stage. The 31-year-old has collaborated with global artists and brands, from choreographing American singer Usher's 'You Make Me Wanna' and co-choreographing 'Margiela' to serving as movement director for K-pop group aespa's recent music video 'Dirty Work.' Her credits include industry giants such as The Black Label, Cube Entertainment, Samsung and Nike. Mr. Kriss, who has performed with artists such as Kylie Minogue and Hania Rani, and collaborated with Greenpeace, Adidas Originals and Louis Vuitton, is also making his Korean stage debut. The connection is personal. '(In my childhood,) Korean breaking dance crews were my biggest inspiration,' he said. 'I watched every clip I could find. I even learned Korean city names from breakdance videos — which crew came from where. So it was amazing to meet some of these dancers when I came to Korea.' Both choreographers hope their audience finds the same emotional truth they did. 'For me, this piece is about acceptance — accepting myself,' said Haeni. 'I hope the audience feels that for themselves, too.' Mr. Kriss agreed. 'We want people to be less in their heads. Not to think about the story, but feel it here in their hearts.'
Korea Herald
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
The sound of now: young Korean creators redefine tradition and form
At Sejong Center's Sync Next25, haeum player-compsoer Joo Jeong-hyeon meets classical music composer Choi Jae-hyuck Composer-conductor Choi Jae-hyuck and haegeum player-composer Joo Jeong-hyeon have been on the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' radar since the launch of its summer contemporary music series, The Sync Next, in 2022. This year, for the first time, the center brought them together to explore what kind of synergy might emerge. The performance, part of the Sync Next 25 program running from July to September at the Sejong Center's S Theater, pairs Choi's ensemble, Ensemble Blank, with Joo, an experimental haegeum player whose work spans performance, composition and video. It also marks their first-ever collaboration. 'Joo is an expert improviser — she's especially known for combining the haegeum with other elements in bold, experimental ways,' Choi said during a recent interview. 'We, on the other hand, are trained to play strictly notated scores. So we thought, why not try blending the two? Some parts are composed, others are improvised. It's a challenge for both of us, which is exactly why we think the audience will experience something truly new.' Choi, who first gained international attention as the youngest-ever winner of the Geneva International Music Competition's composition category in 2017, leads Ensemble Blank, a contemporary group known for its adventurous programming. 'Both Ensemble Blank and I are people who constantly think about what it means to be contemporary, and how we can achieve that. So I think the main focus of this collaboration will be creating sound together — building something collectively, rather than just presenting individual pieces,' Joo said. Joo is a 2024 recipient of the Korea National Academy of Arts' Young Artist Award. The program on Friday and Saturday opens with Alexander Schubert's 2014 piece "Serious Smile," a hyper-digital, rhythmically driven piece. This is followed by a striking contrast: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's "Ave Maria a 8 voci," written in 1572, arranged for wind and string instruments, offering a moment of Renaissance polyphony and meditative calm. Joo takes the stage solo with a haegeum improvisation, highlighting her signature blend of embodied technique and spontaneous expression. The program continues with Choi's own 'Straight to Heaven,' a large-scale ensemble work that moves with cinematic intensity. The evening will also see Ensemble Blank and Joo perform the Asian premiere of Jessie Cox's "Quantify,' an experimental piece from 2017 that explores the interplay of sound, identity and time. The program concludes with the world premiere of Joo's 'Primitive Happiness,' a new audiovisual work written for Ensemble Blank that fuses live instruments and video. The stage design for this performance reflects the playful creativity of the two artists. The setup features a small triangular stage and a larger triangular stage positioned opposite each other, like an hourglass, with the audience seated in between. As Choi and Joo, both born in 1994, and Ensemble Blank explore a borderless space where familiarity gives way to unexpected listening, Choi emphasized the importance of simply knowing that certain artistic experiences exist. 'Even if it's unfamiliar at first, having that encounter becomes part of one's inner world — something you can return to, draw from and eventually express,' he said. Joo echoed that sentiment, offering a reflection on Korean audiences. 'Lately, as I've been doing more work in Korea again, I've really come to feel that Korean audiences are far more open to a wide range of things and are actively seeking out new experiences. Especially among younger generations, I think we're now in a time when people embrace stimulating, dopamine-releasing experiences without resistance,' she said. 'In that sense, maybe what we're doing won't feel all that unfamiliar after all.' Two performances will take place at Sejong Center's S Theater: At 7:30 p.m. on Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturday. gypark@
![[Photo News] Sync Next 25 kicks off with ‘borderless' stage experience](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F07%2F05%2Fnews-p.v1.20250705.2ecfcb3e242248d292c3633a8e4c070a_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] Sync Next 25 kicks off with ‘borderless' stage experience
'Sync Next,' the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' contemporary summer program, kicked off a ten-week festival on Friday, with the opencing concert titld 'Lucid Fall, Jung Mari, Boo Ji-hyun on Sync Next 25." Breaking free from the conventional format of the stage, the opening performance offered audiences a new theatrical experience that they can hear, see, and sense with their entire bodies. Singer-songwriter Lucid Fall presented ambient music incorporating the sounds of nature and instruments, while vocalist Jung Mari showcased jeongga, a type of Korean classical vocal music, and artist Boo Ji-hyun unveiled installation art using light and space. Audience members carried pillows as they move around, sit, or lean against different parts of the stage while taking in the performance. Now in its fourth year, this year's Sync Next features a total of 11 programs and 32 performances until Sept. 6. Its program consists of over 80 percent new and premiere works and By going beyond the physical limitations of the theater space to expand the boundaries of the audience's senses and perceptions, this season's Sync Next aims to embody its vision of 'borderlessness,' acording to the Sejong Center.
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'I Invite you to my funeral': 83-year-old actor stages her final farewell
On Sunday, on the windswept shores of Sunpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, 83-year-old Park Jeong-ja broke into a shoulder-shimmying dance in a pair of red shoes, her green floral dress fluttering in the sea breeze. This was no ordinary festival, but a scene in her upcoming film, "Between Cheongmyeong and Gogu" (working title), directed by actor-director Yoo Jun-sang. The scene being filmed was a funeral -- specifically, that of the character 'She,' played by Park. But in a rare and deeply personal twist, the mourners weren't just anybody. Park had invited 150 friends and colleagues to be the bereaved. It was like a rehearsal, a trial run, for her funeral. Yoo's fifth directorial work follows the final days of an aging actress grappling with memory loss. He wrote the screenplay, based on the story of Park's life and career. Rather than a somber, solemn mood, the set reflected a request Park had sent to her guests a month earlier. The message, titled 'Obituary: Park Jeong-ja's Last Curtain Call,' outlined the date and location of her 'funeral' and included a poetic invitation: "I invite you to my funeral. Who decided funerals must be solemn? It will be different today." Instead of tears, bring laughter. Flowers are not needed, bring memories instead. Bring old stories and light jokes, and the moments we laughed together." Those who answered the call included some of Korea's foremost cultural figures: former Busan International Film Festival director Kim Dong-ho; actors Kang Bu-ja, Nam Myung-ryul, Yang Hee-kyung, Park Ji-il, Gil Hae-yeon and Jung Kyung-soon; musical actor Kim Ho-young; singer Jang Sa-ik; Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture President Song Hyeong-jong; Sejong Center CEO Ahn Ho-sang and others. The attendees carried small banners that read the titles of Park's many plays. Her message concluded with a final note that hinted at her philosophy on life, death and performance. "This is not a farewell, but a pause. Not an end, but an intermission. My stage is not yet over, even if I am no longer seen."
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Blockbusters with a baton: film concerts bring screen legends to the stage
'Harry Potter,' 'Attack on Titan' and Disney soundtracks to be performed in Seoul The "Harry Potter" Film Concert series continues its spellbinding journey, returning to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul with two back-to-back installments. From May 16 to 18, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert" takes center stage, followed by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in Concert" from Oct. 24 to 26. These performances invite audiences to an elevated experience of the beloved film series, with a live orchestra performing the movie's full original score. Conductor Young Shih-heung, who has conducted the series in Korea since its debut in 2019, returns with the Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra. The sixth installment's music by Nicholas Hooper, nominated for a Grammy, and the seventh's score by Academy Award-winner Alexandre Desplat, known for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "The Shape of Water," will be performed in their entirety. Tickets are available through the Sejong Center's website and major ticketing platforms. Prices range from 30,000 won to 150,000 won ($22-108). A limited number of premium 'suite' seats, offering enhanced viewing experiences, are available exclusively via the Sejong Center. 'Disney in Concert': A family affair On Saturday and Sunday, "Disney in Concert: Beyond the Magic" will take place at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. Designed for family audiences, the concert blends heartwarming visuals from Disney and Pixar's most iconic films with live vocal performances by some of Korea's top musical theater artists and the Ditto Orchestra led by conductor Lee Byung-uk. The program features timeless classics such as "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast," as well as fan-favorite hits from "Coco," "Moana," "Frozen" and more. Notably, songs from "Moana 2," a 2024 release that drew over 3.6 million viewers in Korea, will be performed live for the first time. The cast includes musical actress Lee Areum-sol, praised for her pitch-perfect dubbing of the character Matangi in "Moana 2," alongside Song Eun-hye of "Phantom of the Opera," rising star Kim Kyung-rok and charismatic performer Lee Jong-suk. Tickets for "Disney in Concert" at Sejong Center range from 44,000 won to 110,000 won, and are available through the Sejong Arts Center website and affiliated ticketing sites. The same concert will also take place at the Geoje Arts Center in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, on May 15. Ticket prices are between 60,000 won and 80,000 won. 'Attack on Titan': Anime epic goes symphonic For fans of darker, high-intensity narratives, "Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls World Tour" heads to Korea May 31 and June 1 for four concerts. Featuring original music from the anime, composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto, the performance fuses rock energy with full symphonic force. Signature tracks such as "at'aek ON taitn," "counter・attack-mankind," and "Footsteps of Doom" will be performed live, accompanied by synchronized scenes from the anime series. The Korean leg of the world tour, which kicked off April in Los Angeles and visits 25 cities worldwide through November, will take place at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul. Tickets for "Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls" are available through Interpark and range from 66,000 won to 132,000 won. gypark@
