Contemporary Dance Festival '12 Modern Dance Changgak Artists Exhibition' Opens July 5

The 37th "12 Korean Contemporary Dance Choreographers Exhibition," aimed at fostering the experimental creative spirit in the dance community and promoting the development and revitalization of dance arts, will be held from July 5 to 13 at the Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater in Daehangno.

2023 The 37th Exhibition of 12 Korean Contemporary Dance Choreographers_[Photo by Korea Contemporary Dance Association]

Hosted by the Korean Contemporary Dance Association, the "12 Korean Contemporary Dance Choreographers Exhibition" is one of the most prestigious stages in the domestic dance scene, where mid-career dancers who have established their own unique worlds based on solid skills and creative spirit in various fields such as Korean dance, modern dance, and ballet come together to present the current state and future direction of Korean dance on a single stage.

Since 1987, the exhibition has been held annually every April at the Arko Arts Theater, consistently showcasing performances, and this year is preparing for its 37th edition. The 12 participating choreographers are selected through recommendations from external judges, the Korean Contemporary Dance Association’s board meetings, and include the previous year’s best work chosen by an audience evaluation panel.

The program involves discussions about the schedules and works of the final selected choreographers, with systematic preparation of new premiere works over approximately 4 to 6 months, followed by performances twice daily over six days.

This year’s stage will feature 12 diverse choreographers?Kim Sangjin, Kim Hyuntae, Moon Jiaae, Shin Seungwon, Shin Changho, Kim Yonggeol, Geum Baeseop, Kim Hyerim, Lee Yunkyung, Jung Hyejin, Jo Yunra, and Jung Eunhye?who will present distinctive works reflecting their unique styles to the audience.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the 34th event in 2020 was held as an untact online live broadcast. The 35th event in 2021 operated with recorded broadcasts and socially distanced seating, while the 36th event in 2022 combined recorded broadcasts with full in-person audience seating.

A representative of the Korean Contemporary Dance Association stated, "This year’s event will focus on the diversity of the festival by operating high-quality side events that bring the audience closer, including the third edition of the 'Workshop with Dance Choreographers' and interview videos with the 12 choreographers titled 'Dance Choreographers’ Work Production Stories.'"

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