On December 12-13 at Sejong Center Grand Theater
Performance scene of the Seoul City Dance Company's original dance drama 'Not-N.O.T' Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will present the Seoul City Dance Company's original dance drama "Not-N.O.T (Not)" as the opening performance of the "2020 Sejong Season" at the Sejong Center Grand Theater on March 12-13.
"Not" stands for "No One There? (N.O.T-No One There?)" and is the first work introduced by Jeong Hye-jin, the director of the Seoul City Dance Company, after her appointment last year. It elegantly portrays the story of our inability to communicate amid various conflicts of the times by blending traditional Korean dance movements with modern choreography, receiving acclaim from critics and audiences alike at its premiere.
"Not" depicts the journey of an eighty-year-old grandmother trapped in the memories of a ten-year-old girl, searching for her parents separated during the Korean War. Through the young girl's journey, the work reflects on the ongoing communication breakdowns in our society, which resembles a continuous state of war for those who have experienced it, delivering a message to overcome insurmountable barriers and seek coexistence.
The March presentation of "Not" has enhanced the work's completeness by revising parts that were insufficient during the premiere. The production has strengthened dynamic large-scale group dance scenes and the dreamlike balloon choreography scenes.
A representative of the Seoul City Dance Company stated, "We strived to make scenes where the present and past coexist, as well as the relationships between characters that were not clearly revealed in the play, easier for the audience to understand through improved choreography and acting. We also enhanced details in lighting and sound direction to bring out the emotional depth and movement flow of the drama."
The 2020 production of "Not" reunites the staff from last year's premiere. Jeong Hye-jin, director of the Seoul City Dance Company, serves as artistic director and choreographer, while the direction is by Oh Kyung-taek, who won the Best Director Award at the 3rd Korean Musical Awards. Co-choreographers include contemporary dancer Kim Seong-hoon, formerly of the Akram Khan Dance Company, and music director is composer Kim Cheol-hwan.
Through "Not," the Seoul City Dance Company plans to showcase Korean contemporary dance that combines traditional Korean dance movements with modern choreography. Tickets are available through Sejong Culture Ticket and Interpark Ticket.
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