The American Ballet Theater (ABT) has promoted its Korean-born ballerina Seo Hee to the position of principal dancer, the renowned U.S. troupe announced via its website on Friday. Seo is the first Korean dancer to hold the position. Seo’s promotion takes place just weeks before her “Giselle” Korean tour, which is scheduled to run from July 18-22.  The 26-year-old dancer joined ABT in 2004, became a member of its corps de ballet in March 2006 and was promoted to soloist in August 2010. Her repert

LONDON (AP) ― If there’s one thing James Bond has taught us it’s that behind every great spy is a great tailor.A new exhibition at London’s Barbican Centre explores the style of the suave secret agent, displaying costumes, props, set pieces and design drawings from half a century of 007 films.Assembled with help from the films’ producer, EON Productions ― which has a new Bond movie to promote in the fall ― the exhibition includes the spy’s tuxedos, Bond girl ball gowns and villains’ vestments, a

PYONGYANG (AP) -- Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage in North Korea during a concert for new leader Kim Jong Un in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters.　 Performers dressed as some of America’s most memorable cartoon characters danced and pranced as footage from "Snow White," "Dumbo," "Beauty and the Beast" and other popular Disney movies played on a massive backdrop, according to still photos shown on state TV Saturday.The inclusion of characters popular in the West -

Modernized white porcelain works appeal to international viewers at the 18th Biennale of SydneyTwo female Korean artists are showcasing collaborative works at the 18th Biennale of Sydney, revealing the beauty of Korean white porcelain reinterpreted in a modern way for international audiences. Ceramic artist Park Young-sook and sculptor Yee Soo-kyung have collaborated in “The Moon Project,” in which Park shows her signature white porcelain pieces “Moon Jars” and Yee presents a ball-shaped sculptu

On Feb. 6, 1982, director Jung In-yeop’s legendary erotic romance “Madame Ae-ma” was released at the Seoul Cinema Theater in Jongno, central Seoul. The venue was completely packed with an excited crowd, and fierce competition for tickets ensued, resulting in broken windows. It was the first Korean movie to be screened late at night, after the nightly curfew had been lifted exactly one month before. The sexually explicit film, which is considered one of the iconic works of 1980s Korean cinema, dr

A look into the real-life 40-something man-about-townIn the much-talked-about, much-watched “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” men are portrayed as skincare-conscious 40-something dudes who hang out at cafes and are not afraid to gush over their non-alcoholic beverages or be seen shopping together. With viewer ratings up in the 20 percent range, this oft-called male version of “Sex and the City” is a hot commodity, but are the attractive, sensitive, metrosexual leading men in the show a far-fetched image

Dance“Orpheus and Eurydice”: Kim Yong-geol Dance Theater presents its original creative repertory “Orpheus and Eurydice” from July 28 to 29 at Gangdong Arts Center in Seoul. The troupe is led by former Opera de Paris dancer Kim Yong-geol, who now teaches at the Korean National University of Arts. An original piece entirely choreographed by Kim, the show tells the famous tragic love story of Orpheus and his wife Eurydice from the ancient Greek myth. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. Fo

Brown’s ‘Fortune’ is patchy albumChris Brown “Fortune” (RCA Records)One of the best songs on Chris Brown’s new album is a soft number, “Don’t Judge Me,” that finds him asking a girlfriend to look past his mistakes.“So please don’t judge me, because it can get ugly, before it gets beautiful,” he sings in his signature semi-high pitch.For another singer, such a tune might come off as just another relationship plea. But coming from the bad boy singer whose career is nearly restored after his attack

The Thieves (Korea)Opening July 25Crime. Action. Directed by Choi Dong-hun. Anycall (Gianna Jun), Popeye (Lee Jung-jae), Chewing Gum (Kim Hae-sook) and Zampano (Kim Soo-hyun) are professional thieves who work together. After their success in a gallery heist, the group hears that Popeye’s old partner and mastermind of robbery Macao Park is back for another job after many years of missing. Pepsi (Kim Hye-soo), a genius safecracker and old flame of Macao Park, decides to join the group to settle th

Behind the wheel of his tour bus, Don Baisa prays.Please. Give me George Clooney today, he thinks as tourists scramble aboard the 12-seat, open-top van marked “City Tours!”Or Charlize Theron. Or Jennifer Aniston.Will Ferrell. He’d take Will Ferrell.Baisa, a 61-year-old veteran of the tour bus scene with a neatly groomed, salt-and-pepper mustache, knows what his passengers want during their two-hour journey through Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Spotting stars means big tips. One day, after Ryan Se

A leading South Korean musical production company said Thursday it is preparing to debut an English-language musical in London’s West End.Acom International Co., producer of hit Korean musicals “The Last Empress” and “Hero,” said it had a second workshop performance of the new musical “Woyzeck” at Charing Cross Theater in London last month.The event came after the company’s seven-year-long effort to produce something that can better appeal to global audiences. So, the production company made “Wo

 Famous faces are the focus of the latest exhibition at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong.The exhibition, titled “Visage,” features 50 portraits of well-known figures in history, including French fashion designer Coco Chanel, soprano Maria Callas as well as individuals by American and European artists.Seven artists active in North America and Europe reveal their distinctive characteristics through portraits.  Canadian artist Andre Monet recreates portraits of famous people in both avant-gard

Australian cast of hit musical energized by unexpected enthusiasmThe Australian stars of hit Broadway musical “Wicked” are having a truly wicked time in Korea. From receptive audiences to indulgent coffee houses and the graciousness of the Korean people, Jemma Rix and David Harris are spoilt for choice for highlights of their stay. Five weeks into the Korean tour, Rix, who plays the rebellious green witch Elphaba, and Harris, who plays Fiyero, her dashing love interest, have been overwhelmed by