□ The Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE, president Kim Yong-rak) has officially launched the Traveling Korean Arts program.

□ On April 11 (Belgian time), a Korean contemporary dance special opened the curtains at Théâtre Varia in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Young Korean contemporary dance teams Company SIGA (SIGA) and Art Project BORA (Art BORA) present a performance under the title Somoo + Equilibrium + Haetal through the 13th. This show was produced as a regular program for the 2018–2019 season at Théâtre Varia, a theatre specializing in dance and theatre since its establishment in 1905. Despite the show dates coinciding with Belgium’s Easter holidays, the 300-seat theatre was filled with local audiences.

□ The program opened with “Equilibrium” and “Haetal” by SIGA and ended with “Somoo” by Art BORA. “Equilibrium” is a piece in which two dancers experiment with balance. The choreographer, Lee Jae-young, was inspired by the repetitive process of opposing forces achieving and falling out of balance over time, which is often the cause of social and natural phenomena. The artistic director of Théâtre Varia first saw this performance in 2017 upon his visit to the Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS), where he was an invited guest of the KOFICE program “Traveling Korean Arts Plus,” along with an employee from the Korean Cultural Center in Belgium, and decided to invite the show to Brussels.

□ “Haetal,” which follows “Equilibrium,” is choreographed by Ahn Ji-hyung and inspired by the “Pagyeseung (apostate monk)” episode of Hahoe byeolsingut tallori (Mask Dance Drama of Hahoe). While emphasizing the distinct attributes and characters of tallori (Korean traditional mask dance), “Haetal” playfully leads a contemporary narrative. Though the dancers do not wear masks, the performance carries on the message of traditional tallori, an artform that served as a means of expressing one’s wishes for a bountiful harvest. This piece is an exquisite mix of the dynamic movements of contemporary dance and the dynamic sound of Korean traditional samullori.

□ After the intermission, “Somoo” by Art BORA tackled society’s narrow view of the female body. The title references Somu, the only female character in Korean tallori wearing a gaksital (bridal mask) and the limited role the character was assigned. This contemporary dance choreographed by Kim Bora embraces traditional elements such as hemp cloth and the melody of the beloved Korean folk song “Arirang.”

□ As the show came to an end, the audience applauded with “bravos.” There were four curtain calls and the enthusiasm lasted through the ensuing discussion session. Even after 10 p.m., many remained in their seats to engage in a conversation with the choreographers. Questions were abundant, from general inquiries about influences of Korean culture to detailed questions on the meanings of certain stage props. One viewer remarked that the three pieces created a nice flow and thanked the performers for a lovely evening.

□ Director of Théâtre Varia and producer of this program Sylvie Somen noted, “I’m pleased to be able to invite emerging Korean choreographers and works of original contemporary dance to the theater. I hope to sustain a cooperative relationship to introduce various Korean performing arts programs to Belgium.”

□ Traveling Korean Arts helps promote overseas forays of Korean cultural arts programs and arranges joint performances and exhibitions in cooperation with overseas Korean Cultural Centers, concert halls, museums, and festival organizers to vitalize international exchanges in the cultural arts. This year, the program will present performances and exhibitions in 17 countries, including Belgium.