Korean B-boys and Samulnori in the UAE
The night before last I attended a concert at the Abu Dhabi National theater. Performing were a troup of Korean Samulnori and B-boy dancers. I'm not sure who hosted the entire event (I think it was the Korea-Arab League and perhaps KNTO) but it was nice after a couple of months away to see and hear some familliar things. I have met several Korean families since I have been here but I had no idea that there was such a large presence.
The show was delightfullly entertaining. I really expected the usual B-boy hip-hop thing and figured my daughter would love it but they fused modern 'b-boy dance' with some classical music and even samulnori. I particularly enjoyed the b-boy rendetions of Pachelbel and Arirangs; a delightful fusion of modern dance and hip-hop set to classical music.
Of course there was the expected 'sparkling' aggrandizing of Korea as a tourist destination but as I watched, I felt myself unexpectedly proud of the presentation of Korea and its attractions. Perhaps it takes a new perspective to appreciate it after 12 years.
2 comments:
Glad to hear you are adjusting to your new place. I am surprised by the number of Koreans there. I look forward to more stories ..and BTW, how is wife and baby?
Hi! I just found your blog while surfing on the net.
I found your cultural background really interesting (living in Korea and moving to the UAE. There aren't many foreigners-I mean non Koreans- in the UAE who have lived in Korea)
Are you still in the UAE?
I am a Korean living in Abu Dhabi
living a quite nomadic life
travelling to different places.
I actually arrived here last week.
Lovely blog. It was interesting to see your perspective on Korea.
juliet_blinker@hotmail.com
Would like to hear your stories and perspectives of the UAE.
How it's different from Korea etc. Take care.
Post a Comment