Arts

OzAsia Festival Review: Dancing Grandmothers

In 2010 Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn took some of her dancers and three cameras, travelling around the country. On their journey they filmed older women dancing. These were farmers, fishers, shop-owners, horticulturalists. These women are the backbone of Korea, and Ahn wanted to celebrate them. Dancing Grandmothers is a work which grew out of that initial tour and combines dance, film and movement in a celebration of that most overlooked demographic: the older woman.

Presented by Eun-Me Ahn
Reviewed 25 October 2018

In 2010 Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn took some of her dancers and three cameras, travelling around the country. On their journey they filmed older women dancing. These were farmers, fishers, shop-owners, horticulturalists. These women are the backbone of Korea, and Ahn wanted to celebrate them. Dancing Grandmothers is a work which grew out of that initial tour and combines dance, film and movement in a celebration of that most overlooked demographic: the older woman.

The work is essentially in three parts. The first part sees Ahn’s  company of male and female dancers, in a lively, contemporary work, based around the theme. The middle part is the film. The third and final part sees the company joined by several “grandmothers” who dance and whoop in a cry of “We are here.”

Some sections of the work felt over long and repetitive, but that is my only quibble. The choreography is tight, modern and yet organic. The music is mostly contemporary Korean works, including some of the ubiquitous K-pop. The dancers are sensational, with each one of them making the choreography their own.

This is colourful, glorious and exuberant work, with something very important to say.

Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten

Rating: 4/5

Venue:  Dunstan Playhouse
Season:  26th October 7.30 pm 27th October 4 pm
Duration:  75 mins
Tickets:  $49-$65
Bookings:  https://www.ozasiafestival.com.au/events/dancing-grandmothers/

https://www.ozasiafestival.com.au/

 

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