Tramway's K:Dance double bill is a Scottish first for the UK Festival of Korean Dance

The national Festival of Korean Dance is set to present a programme of work in Scotland for the first time ever, when it brings the Kontemporary Korea Double Bill to Tramway on Thursday 16 May.

First established in London six years ago, the festival began touring nationally in 2023, but this year is its first visit to Scotland. The Kontemporary Korea double bill at Glasgow Life's Tramway is the only opportunity to see these performances in Scotland. It combines the talents of the critically acclaimed choreographer and dancer Sung Im Her, and Cheol-in Jeong, who performs as Melancholy Dance Company.

Jenny Crowe, Senior Manager, Tramway, said: “We’re delighted to welcome this fantastic international double bill to Tramway bringing a glimpse of bold, highly acclaimed K-Dance to Glasgow audiences. This performance will open the UK tour of A Festival of Korean Dance as a snapshot of the wider festival before the works are staged at venues including The Place in London.”

Sung Im Her’s Tomorrowisnowtodayisyesterday (TiNTiY) is performed by three dancers on a minimal stage with starkly designed lighting and a club-like soundtrack composed by musical duo Husk Husk. It looks at the impact of social media, both playing with its fun aspects – the challenges, the memes, the skits – but also its darker undertones: The oversharing, over-saturation and conspiracy theories. Already a favourite with previous festival goers, Sung Im Her’s high energy, engaging personality is sure to be in evidence here.

Melancholy Dance Company’s Flight (pictured above), a virtuoso performance for two, aims to express the human desire to fly, and overcome our limitations. As the two performers dance a skillfully balanced duet of leaps and falls, we see how individuals can come together to soar towards their goals.

Tickets are available now, priced £20/£15/£10 (pay what you can)

Notes to Editors

Festival of Korean Dance 2024, including Kontemporary Korea, is supported by Korean Cultural Centre UK and Korea Arts Management Service, produced in partnership with The Place, The Lowry, Tramway, Dance City and Pavilion Dance South West.

About Sung Im Her

Born in South Korea, Sung Im Her obtained a master’s degree in contemporary dance at Hansung University. She also studied in Belgium at P.A.R.T.S., the acclaimed contemporary dance school Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker led. As a performer, she has worked in with companies in Korea and Belgium including, Ji-Gu Dance Theater, Les Ballets C de la B, Needcompany, Abattoir Fermé, Opéra de Lille and more. As a choreographer, Sung Im has been selected for development programmes Testbeds Catalyst, Aerowaves 21, and Choreodrome at The Place. She has been commissioned by the Seoul Performing Arts Festival, Counterpoint Arts and Korean Arts Council, and supported by Arts Council England, Seoul Foundation of Arts and Culture, Horizon Showcase and more.

About Melancholy Dance Company

Melancholy Dance Company, founded in 2016 by choreographer Cheol-in Jeong, sees the world we live in as art and creates works that various audiences can sympathise with. With the theme of human life such as Flight, 0g and Übermensch, Mobility their work contain messages with an insight into human beings and phenomena through speed, rhythm, and weight. Choreographer Cheol-in Jeong embraces the melancholic emotions that he faces and tries to show the reach to the future and the ideal by overcoming the limitations and expansion of body language through art.

About Tramway

Tramway is an international contemporary arts hub which supports established and emerging artists, both international and local, who focus on experimental and contemporary dance, visual art, and performance. For thirty years we have built a reputation for our unique performance and exhibition spaces, and ambitious and inspiring programming. Tramway is part of Glasgow Life and receives regular funding from Creative Scotland. For more information, visit www.tramway.org.

About Glasgow Life

Glasgow Life is a charity working for the benefit of the people of Glasgow. They believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and they find innovative ways to make this happen across the city’s diverse communities. Their programmes, experiences and events range from grassroots community activities to large-scale cultural, artistic, and sporting events which present Glasgow on an international stage.

Their work is designed to promote inclusion, happiness, and health, as well as support the city’s visitor economy, in order to enhance Glasgow’s mental, physical and economic wellbeing. For more information, visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk.

About The Place

The Place, London’s creative powerhouse for dance development, has been leading the way in dance training, creation and performance for 50 years. In a changing landscape, our vision for the future remains steadfast: We are powering imagination through dance, championing new ideas, embracing risks and creating a dance ecosystem unlike any other in the world, with optimal conditions for dance artists and enthusiasts to realise their full potential. The Place is home to London Contemporary Dance School, an extensive theatre and artist development programme, education projects, a range of classes and courses and a nationwide touring model. As a pioneering dance organisation, we are committed to creating no-barriers access to exciting dance experiences and opportunities for everybody, offering a diverse and dynamic theatre programme for audiences, empowering artists and dance makers and giving young people access to the highest quality opportunities to touch their lives with dance.

Listings Information

Tomorrowisnowtodayisyesterday (TiNTiY)

& Flight

Thursday 16 May 2024

7:30pm - 9pm

£20/£15/£10 (pay what you can)