For Earthdancers, Peace Leads Way Around the Globe

The four pillars of modern disco, or rave, culture have long been peace, love, unity and respect － or P.L.U.R. for short. The international electronic dance scene is getting ready to put P.L.U.R. into play on Saturday when more than 100 cities around the world will throw a simultaneous party known as Earthdance 2001: The Global Dance Party for Peace. It is a little idealistic, but as Chris Deckker, the event's London-based founder said, Earthdance is about "one world community, a tribe united in its dedicated and profound hope for peace and world transformation."

Seoul's own party promoter Sickboy Pro is hosting the Korean leg of the international event. The party starts at the New Pharoah's club in the Hilton hotel at 7 p.m. About 800 people are expected at Sickboy Pro's first charity event. "We've been doing parties for two or three years," said one Sickboy Pro member, Robb Harker. "It's about time we give back to the community." Donations from the Korean party are going to Namsan Orphanage.

The climax of the event is at midnight, London time － 8 a.m. on Sunday in Korea － when every disc jockey in all the participating cities will play a track called "The Prayer for Peace." As the party at Pharoah's will wind down around 4 a.m., a club near Hongik University, Myungwolgwan, is hosting a free afterparty for Earthdance participants who want to be part of the moment. Mr. Harker said, "It would be nice to have 50 people," referring to daybreak at Myungwolgwan, "but by then, probably only 10 of us will still be awake. Who knows? We'll crash quickly afterwards."

Nine of the other parties will be broadcast on the Internet at www.earthdance.org. Unfortunately, there will be no screens at Myungwolgwan at that time.

DJ Remy from Therapy Music in Holland is flying to Seoul for the party. The DJ line-up also includes Sickboy Pro's own Dave Benz, Sal and Yeon-jun, as well as BeeJay from Innertech, another event organizer.

The global party movement began in 1997, with 18 countries and 25,000 participants worldwide. Last year, 100,000 people participated. Deckker, based in London, originally came up with the idea to raise awareness and money for Tibet. The parties have expanded to include other issues, such as the environment, indigenous people, children and inner city issues.

Tickets cost 25,000 won ($19) and include one free drink. For more information, visit the Web site www.sickboypro.com.

by Joe Yong-hee