‘Footloose’ brings hope and passion through dance

Features

Published: 07 Jul. 2005, 21:21

‘Footloose’ brings hope and passion through dance

Like other coming of age, youth-inspired musicals such as “Grease” and “Fame,” the musical “Footloose” is about the hopes and disappointments of young people and their dreams.
When the movie was first released in 1984, it made Kevin Bacon an idol of the 1980s as a dancer-actor, and it popularized many songs such as “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” and “Holding On For a Hero.”
Next weekend, the musical company Daejoong will begin a three-month run of “Footloose” at the Yonkang Hall in Jongno. The story centers on Ren McCormack, a working class youth from Chicago with a flair for dance, who arrives in a small town with his mother.
To the conservative townsfolk who deny themselves the joys of life (there is a ban on dancing in this town) and are overshadowed by grief, Ren tries to bring a feeling of love, passion and consolation through his dance.
Ren tries to help the pastor of the town and his rebellious daughter Ariel break free from the town’s tragic past to renew hope among its people, and just let teenagers be who they are: young and hot-blooded. There is a heartfelt scene in which Ren reads passionately from the Bible to persuade the town elders to allow dancing in the city limits.
The storyline may be corny, but the songs are undeniably irresistible. The process of healing is the essence of this story: the energetic music and dance are sure to arouse the audience’s emotions.
The theme song, “Footloose,” was No. 1 on the Billboard charts for 37 weeks in 1984. It is a quintessential 1980s show, with all the energy and drive of that period, along with the bushy hairstyles and rock anthems.
The cast includes Seo Ji-yeong, one of the most sought-after musical actresses of her generation, as well as former child actor turned musical actor Kim Su-yong.

by Choi Jie-ho

“Footloose” will be performed at the Yonkang Hall in Jongno district from July 15 to Oct. 16. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and weekends. No performance on Mondays. Ticket prices range from 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 766-8551/2.