Korea National Contemporary Dance Company review

KNCDC Double Bill
Mechanism by Jaeyoung Lee ★★★★★
Everything Falls Dramatic by Sungim Her ★★★★★

This year's edition of the Festival of Korean Dance is the most ambitious so far, presenting a wide selection of South Korean troupes and choreographers both at the Place in London and on tour.

It opened a galling 15 minutes late with a double bill from the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC): two pieces, two choreographers, 12 dancers and a whole lot of puzzlement, for this spectator at least.

Mechanism by choreographer Jaeyoung Lee I found quite entertaining. Three men and three women dressed in translucent purple/brown bodystockings and grey leotards (costume designer, Jinhee Lee) march on to the naked stage and sit on chairs placed on either side of a square white dancing area: men on one side, women on the other. In absolute silence one man walks purposefully to the centre of the stage and starts moving the joints of his body: wrists, shoulders, hips and so on. He bends down, straightens up again and resumes his investigation of his own body.

Body as mechanism – it seems clear enough. Soon he is joined by another man, and composer Bluechan's thumping music is heard. The two reprise the original movements in unison. As more dancers join in, their faces entirely expressionless, so their gestures become more expansive and they cover the entire stage.

The dancing consists entirely of syncopated movements, rising in a crescendo along with the music. Arms fold at the elbow or swing like pendulums. Wrists seem to have their own independent life. They dance at the same time, but not together. They are robotic and the whole thing comes across as entirely soul-less, not by accident but by design.

I couldn't quite discern a match to the piece's billing as 'playing with our understanding of what "human interaction" means.' Nevertheless, Jaeeok Kim's bright lighting design enhanced the piece, and I found much to commend in the vigour and split-second coordination of the dancers.

Good art travels and communicates across borders and cultures. The same, of course, applies to choreography. Sadly, though, the purpose of Everything Falls Dramatic by Sungim Her remained as obscure as its title throughout the piece's 35 or so minutes.

It may or may not have started with Sungim Her herself, a mane of unruly black hair cascading down her back, prancing childishly about the stage and pulling faces as a group of stagehands swept it clean after the first piece.

She then leaves and a new group of five dancers (four men and one woman) arrive and throw themselves on the ground. And there they stay, still or rolling around, for what feels like an eternity. So far, the piece is definitely Fall but by no means Dramatic.

They do eventually get on all fours and perform a lengthy version of push-ups. Finally on their own two feet there's a lot of hairography and a lot of jumping up and down. Sungim Her herself makes another brief appearance apparently to remind the dancers of their steps.

And it all ends with the bodies in a pile being showered by red confetti. Amazingly, the list of credits for this shapeless and seemingly pointless piece includes a dramaturg: Yoonhee Yang. Go figure.

Note: the Festival of Korean Dance continues in London until Tuesday 9 May. Full preview here.