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Inner Moves segment - Artists of Novaballet
Photos: Natalia Perez |
REPERTORY DETAIL
Choreography: James Jeon Staged for Novaballet by Kyudong Kwak Lead Artist for this staging of Inner Moves was Heather Haar
“Asian music and dance are completely different from Western dance in
spirit, rhythm, and harmony. In Inner Moves, dancers showcase contrasting
personalities and, through their movement, a new form of dance is born.” For a choreographer such as James Jeon, born in South Korea but spending most of his formative years in the United States, operating under a dual set of influences has been a way of life. His choreography has alwyas been experimental, but when he created Inner Moves, those dual influences came together in a balanced harmony of music and movement. Set to an original composition by contemporary South Korean composer Moon Seok Chang, the work bathes the audience in an atmosphere of sensuality and evocative emotion. Conceived as a fusion of eastern movements working in tandem with the traditions of western classical ballet, this collaboration of traditional art forms results in a work that is contemporary both visually and thematically. Eastern dance, whether in emphasizing the visualization of inner feelings, or technical matters such as landing on the heel instead of the point of the foot, exists as a contrast to the athleticism of today’s classically trained dancer. Those contrasts are at the heart of Inner Moves, but they become balanced in a way that demonstrates the universality of dance. Mr. Jeon sees modern life as mechanical and sometimes barren, and through Inner Moves he attempts to communicate the
inner feelings of those living in this culture. By introducing intuitive notions to classical western traditions, while allowing
the athleticism and artistry of ballet to influence eastern movement, he may well have created the appropriate vocabulary
to accomplish this. |
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