Non-verbal performance calls out to the world

Watch out for Daegu, the city will be rocking with a dozen nonverbal performances spread over seven days from this coming Tuesday.

At the second annual Non-Verbal Performance Festival, the Korea Tourism Organization (KNTO) presents "2007 Korea in MOTION, Daegu" where the best of Korea's non-verbal performance groups will gather to show their skills in Daegu's major theaters and streets.
The festival is part of KNTO's "performance tourism marketing." The aim is to induce more tourists to Korea, promote local performers abroad and establish a stable, long-term market for local troupes.

Performance of "Picnic" (left) and percussion group "Arirang Party".

Two of last year's six groups won overseas contracts and all the performances left both local and foreign spectators wanting more. Consequently, this year, there will be twice the number groups and an estimated 20,000 spectators made up of tourists, foreign promoters and reporters from Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and more.
The festival is largely divided into martial arts, acrobatic, material arts, percussion, and B-boy performances.

"Jump," a curtain raiser for the festival is a brilliant mix of comedy and various forms of martial arts, including Taekwondo, Karate, and Kungfu. Already a hot seller abroad -- having played in London's West End, New York's Broadway and 16 other nations -- it was even part of the UK's 78th Royal Variety Performance late last year. Also, Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was seen watching it with their children early last month.
Another must-see is "Marionette" by B-boy group Expression Crew. It will be performed live in Daegu on Nov. 25. The group's work has repeatedly appeared on TV and YouTube, and the performance has been credited for raising break dancing to a new art form by having break dancers perform as marionettes on a dream-like set accompanied by French.
The popular break dance group Gollia Crew and their show "The Ballerina Who Fell in Love with a B-Boy: Season 1" are also on the bill this year. The show runs from Nov. 23- 24. Get ready to be impressed by graceful movements yielding to powerful spins and flips.
There's also "Pingpangpong," a fantasy world encompassing multicultural musical, dance, circus, and mechanical effects. It will move onto Macao and London after Daegu. And "Human Body Amusement" tells the story of a life from cradle to grave without a single word, only body language.
"Arirang Party" and "Kwang Myung" will bring out unique but equally powerful Korean percussion sounds through lightening and other sound effects. The shows will run from Nov. 20-25.

Source: Korea.net