Modern dance troupes will perform at festival

The 31st International Modern Dance Festival (Modafe) will be held in Seoul from May 19 to May 31.

This year’s theme is “Focus on Body’s Movement,” the festival’s organizer, the Contemporary Dance Association of Korea, said yesterday.

French choreographer Thomas Lebrun’s FranKorean Tale will open the festival at Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul, on May 19.

Six Korean dancers have been selected through auditions to join French dancers in the FranKorean Tale, directed by Lebrun, art director of Centre Choregraphique National de Tours.

The Korean-French collaboration will provide an opportunity to promote exchanges between Korea and France, the organizers said.

Nineteen local and foreign dance teams will perform modern dances in the festival.

Foreign participants will include France’s Ballet Preljocaj and Systeme Castafiore, Spain’s Cia Daniel Abreu, and the Suzanne Dellal Centre of Israel.

Nine teams will compete in the Spark Place program to give recognition to next-generation choreographers.

Performances will also be held at the National Theater and Daehangno Arts Theater.

For more information about the festival’s various performances, call (02) 765-5352.

Yonhap