Young Korean Choreographers @ ART SPACE stift millstatt

LIGHT ON - LIGHT OFF N° 7
international performance series of contemporary dance + art

September 2014

It is not only insiders who regard South Korea as a trendsetter in contemporary dance and culture these days. Contemporary dance in South Korea is diverse and, thanks to the excellent educational institutions, also at the highest international level in terms of craftsmanship – daring, experimental and cosmopolitan.

In 2014, as part of the internationally oriented dance performance series LIGHT ON - LIGHT OFF, the cooperation between büro für tanz I theatre I produktionen and [FKc] FORUM KUNST contemporary had the chance to bring an internationally award-winning programme of Young Korean Choreographers to ART SPACE stift millstatt in the Austrian countryside.

The program was curated and organised by Andrea K. Schlehwein in collaboration with the Seoul International Dance Festival and funded by the Cultural Department of the Province of Carinthia.

"Renewal and innovation can emerge when apparent opposites and incongruity meet each other in open discussion."

There is nothing to be said against an event organizer, curator or producer presenting contemporary art of international status in the countryside.

And there is everything to be said in favour of an artist in the countryside to debate current themes in contemporary art, to carry the result of these explorations out into the world, and to realise that as a collective of artists, we can experience inspiring conversations everywhere – whether it is with an audience in Indonesia, Argentina, Germany, Korea, or Carinthia … "

- AKS

BACKGROUND
The Young Korean Choreographer Tour 2014 was initiated and managed by Jong-Ho Lee, one of Korea's most prominent dance producers, member of almost all relevant juries, dance committees and danceweb Korea as well as the artistic director of the Seoul Section of the International Dance Council CID – UNESCO. In this function, he worked closely with Andrea K. Schlehwein - büro für tanz I theatre I produktionen from Carinthia, Austria, in organising the tour. 
 
LIGHT ON – LIGHT OFF
international performance series of contemporary dance + art

started as a performance series with a festival-like character, with the aim of bringing together internationally recognised dance artists in the Austrian countryside and offering a local, national and international audience of young and old people, amateurs and professionals alike a platform for discussion, inspiration and lively intercultural exchange.

THE PROGRAM

Selected by the CID - UNESCO, contemporary dance works by some of the most distinguished Korean dance companies were presented at ART SPACE stift millstatt:

Goblin Party

EDx2 CompanyArt

NONAME SOSU

Project Bora

The program spanned a wide spectrum, featuring artists who gave themselves joyfully and thoughtfully to the highest level of contemporary dance, musing over life and death, humorously questioning grotesque human interactions, shedding light on the intellectual process of choreography and illuminating memories.

	Art Project Bora A long talk to oneself Tanz & Choreographie: Bora Kim Kostüme: In Sook Choi Video: Jae Hyung Joo
	Goblin Party  I Go Choreographie: Jin Ho Lim Tanz: Kyung Gu Lee, Jin Ho Lim, Kyun Min Ji Kostüme: In Suk Choe
	EDx2  Modern Feeling Choreographie: In Soo Lee Tanz: Hyun Ho Kim, Seung Hyun Kang
	NONAME SOSU Not I Tanz & Choreographie: Young Hyun Choi

CRUNCH...

Next to the performance program there were several organised occasions for artists, audience and press representatives to meet, talk and exchange views and ideas.

These gatherings under the title CRUNCH were held in a casual atmosphere accompanied by food and drinks before and after the performances in order to give the young choreographers the chance to introduce themselves and their work, hear feedback and get into dialogue with the local as well as international guests and audience members. 

LIGHT ON - LIGHT OFF N°7

OPENING WORDS by

Dr. Peter Kaiser, Governor of Carinthia

Dear friends of contemporary dance!

Dance is many things: ritual, tradition, genre of performance art, profession, sport, therapy, social phenomenon or simple expression. Under the broad term “contemporary dance,” the artistic dance of the present ranges a wide aesthetic spectrum of abstract and narrative dance as art. Works of current social relevance grow out of the creative processes of contemporary choreographers. Lovers of contemporary dance can experience exactly this, up close and personal, at the Stift Millstatt.

For two years, the office for dance | theater | productions has hosted the internationally cast guest artist series „Light on – Light off“ with the goal of exploring tendencies and currents in the overlapping areas of new media, music, film, literature and art installations. This festival-like performance series brings internationally recognized dance artists together in the Carinthian mountains and offers interested persons a platform for discussion, inspiration and lively inter-cultural exchange. The festival format has an important function: it can easily highlight the interrelated themes trending in today's performing arts scene. Because dance usually communicates literally, its narratives often immediately penetrates our perceptive region that lies deeper than intellectual reason can reach; countless dance viewers experience this sensation again and again. The unique, atmospheric ambiance of Stift Millstatt contributes to this effect. Located in the Austrian region bordering Slovenia and Italy, the old benedictine cloister now continues a long tradition of serving Carinthia as an intellectual and cultural center, ideal for contemplation, focus, dialogue and evolving ideology.

The committed management team Andrea K. Schlehwein and Eleonore Schäfer, together with the renowned Seoul International Dance Festival, have achieved heightened success at the climax of this year's season: bringing the best contemporary choreographers in Korea to Carinthia for the Austrian premiere of an international, multiple prize-winning program. In the name of Carinthia, I thank these women for this, and for their years of outstanding engagement. I look forward to this spectacular event, and wish the festival continued success and the public inspired days of experimental dance works of highest international caliber.

CREDITS

Team / YOUNG KOREAN CHOREOGRAPHERS

Artistic director: Jong Ho Lee
Light designer: Seung Ho Lee
Tour manager: Harim Lee
büro für tanz | theater | produktionen, [FKc] FORUM KUNST contemporary, Andrea K. Schlehwein + NETZWERK AKS

LIGHT ON – LIGHT OFF N°7

Production, management, curation: Andrea K. Schlehwein
Production, graphic & layout, curation: Eleonore Schäfer
Coordination: Brigitte Büsken

Andrea K. Schlehwein + NETZWERK AKS
Corrado Canulli, Artefetto Danza Trieste
Youn Ha Ma, assistance and translations

büro für tanz | theater | produktionen
Technical direction and operation: Robert Herbe
Assistance: Florian Hermann
Photographer: Jo Hermann
Film documentation + trailer: Dario de Nicolo

[FKc ] FORUM KUNST contemporary
Assistance: Miriam Holzer

Tour Organisation
Harim Lee
Andrea K. Schlehwein