Yonhap Interview) With interest in Korean dance, U.S. expert joins Delphic jury

(
(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- To Carla Peterson, the artistic
director of the New York-based Dance Theater Workshop (DTW), dance is an art that
must be approached from various viewpoints in order to develop and promote.

Networking being one of the key elements, she considers her participation in the
third International Delphic Games "very important" as well as an "honor."
"The reason why it is so exciting to be here in Korea is that it gives me an
opportunity to learn more about the way artists work, to learn more about how
this country deals with the promotion of dancers, and to see how people interact
with me as a representative from the U.S.," the U.S. dance expert said.
Making her first visit to Korea as a jury member of the international culture
contest being held on Jeju Island, Peterson admitted she knew little about the
country and its dance culture.
"I haven't seen enough of it (Korean dance) and have worked with only one Korean
choreographer, but that was enough to make me investigate further," the
59-year-old expert said. "I feel like I'm in the beginnings of my opportunity to
get to know Korea more and am very much looking forward to working with other
Korean artists."
In February, Peterson had an opportunity to work with South Korean choreographer
Kim Yoon-jin, who worked with her U.S. colleague Dean Moss for "Kisaeng Becomes
You," which flew to New York after its first showing in Korea last November.
"It was a very strong piece that spoke in a multi-layered way in terms of history
... It was very beautiful how the two artists from different cultures connected
on the issue," Peterson said.
"As opposed to the case for Japan, Korea may not have been in a favorable
position to send out its work around the world in the past," she said. "The
impression I'm now getting is that there is a real interest in your government to
get the (national) work out. That's what it takes -- a political will to take
place in the larger world where there is the ability to be receptive."
Invited as a jury member of the dance improvisation games within the performing
arts section, Peterson said she will be basing her judgment on various aspects
such as "the degree of sophistication, the level of interaction (and) the
musicality" among others.
The dance improvisation games, a solo competition, will take place Sunday
morning, with Peterson and South Korean scholar Nam Jeong-ho sitting in the jury.
Peterson was named to her current position in the DTW in fall 2006, an important
event for the workshop considered one of the more influential and critically
praised institutions within the contemporary dance scene.
Founded in 1965 as a choreographers' collective, the DTW presented over 45
artists and artistic companies from countries including the U.S., Germany,
France, Congo and Brazil last year alone.
"In terms of making a profit, artists in the dance and performance generally lose
money. One of the things we're trying to look for is a way to create a more
sustainable model (for funding) as well as finding a more experimental type of
work," Peterson said.
"My role is to ensure the implementation of the mission of the organization which
is to identify and support the innovative performers not just in New York but
internationally," she said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)