Now in seventh year, annual event offers performances and networking opportunities
About 150 overseas performing arts professionals, as well as 1,300 local figures, gathered to discuss performing arts in Asia at the Performing Arts Market in Seoul.
The annual event takes place at the National Theater of Korea and Namsan Arts Center from Oct. 10 ―14.
Celebrating its seventh year, the Asia-themed event this year has improved its networking programs and academic forums, on top of showcasing performances from home and abroad.
Under the theme, “Creative Cooperation: Conception to Circulation Connecting to Asia, People, Now,” the invited professionals will discuss the present and future of the Asian performing arts market, as well as previous international collaborative projects in Asia. PAMS has been setting its focus on a particular region of the world every year. It featured Europe in 2007, South America in 2008, North America in 2009, and Northern Europe in 2010.
The participating guests include: Malta Festiva’s artistic director Michal Merczynski; Napoli Teatro Festival’s Asia programmer Mascia Pavon; Perth International Arts Festival’s artistic director Jonathan Holloway; and Fadjr International Theater Festival in Iran’s associate Mahammad Haydari.
The event also includes “Connecting with People,” a series of networking opportunities for local and overseas participants. The program’s “Speed Dating” session offers one-on-one consultation from a wide range of invited professionals, including art festival directors, production agency executives, investors and theater producers.
Another session called “Round Table” offers separate tables for festival programmers, creative producers and dance professionals so participants can visit the table of their interest and share their thoughts on topics that cross their minds.
A total of 13 Korean performing arts pieces in four different genres ― theater, music, dance, and multidisciplinary ― will be showcased for PAMS Choice section. Every year, PAMS Choice selects Korea’s leading performances. The production houses of the 13 selected pieces will receive airfare and subtitle and translation support for their overseas tours. A total of 104 pieces have been chosen by PAMS Choice since 2005, and they have been performed more than 400 times overseas.
This year’s PAMS Choice pieces include Theatre Nolddang’s “House Number 1-28 Cha-sook,” Performance Group TUIDA’s “You Cannot Say I did it,” Choe Contemporary Dance Company’s “Argument,” Eun-Me Ahn Company’s “Dancing Grandmothers,” and Minouk Lim’s “Fire Cliff.”
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A scene from “House Number 1-28 Cha-sook,” one of 13 Korean pieces chosen for PAMS Choice this year. (PAMS) |
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A scene from “Dancing Grandmothers,” one of 13 Korean pieces chosen for PAMS Choice this year. (PAMS) |
PAMS this year also features works from Japan and Australia for its International Showcase section. While Australia’s Polyglot Theatre presents “We Built this City,” a play which delves into simplicity and the power of children’s imaginations, Japan’s production house hi-bye brings “Hikky Cancun Tornado,” featuring “Hikikomori,” a Japanese term referring to people who withdraw from society.
A total of 87 exhibition booths will be set up during PAMS, promoting upcoming performances and events of local production companies, festivals, and art organizations.
For more information, visit www.pams.or.kr.
By Claire Lee (
dyc@heraldcorp.com)
