MODAFE, The New Wave #1

[Performance Introduction] MODAFE (International Contemporary Dance Festival), which has led the flow of contemporary dance in the Republic of Korea, has been opening new horizons for contemporary dance art for over 40 years. Moving beyond a simple arts festival, MODAFE has established itself as a prestigious dance festival that shares artworks from around the world and provides creative opportunities for artists, earning deep trust from both domestic and international artists. To date, through MODAFE, over 200 overseas organizations and over 440 domestic organizations have participated, with more than 1,300 works staged. The international networks and artistic solidarity built through the festival have grown MODAFE into a global platform that attracts choreographers and dance companies worldwide. Evolving every year into new and more inclusive forms, MODAFE will celebrate its 45th year in 2026. Under the theme "MODAFE Beyond Time, Beyond Dreams," it aims to share an artistic experience and an international exchange forum that transcends the boundaries of time and dreams. Today, MODAFE seeks to grow continuously as a global festival and promote the diverse artistic values and meanings of contemporary dance, serving as a platform where various nations and artists share their creative worlds and expand the field of artistic communication beyond boundaries. Work Introduction ※ The following order is not related to the performance order. Park Ju-hwan <Untitled> Choreographer Introduction After graduating from the Creative Writing Department at the Korea National University of Arts, Park Ju-hwan built creative experience by participating in the works of various choreographers as a dancer. Through this process, he broadened his perspective on choreography by encountering different artistic viewpoints and working methods. These experiences served as a catalyst for him to concretize his interest and direction in choreography. Based on this, he intends to continuously pursue creative work that presents questions through movement, expanding thoughts originating from individual inner contemplation into the structures and relationships of contemporary society. Work Description The work <Untitled> originated from the idea that the moment one looks at and imagines an ideal within reality can be the beginning of change. The moment we recognize our current state, we naturally imagine a direction different from the present. At that moment, it begins to expand into another possibility. <Untitled> follows the flow of vision as it expands from a place where change has not yet appeared, hoping that other scenes will be drawn within each person's imagination in between. Choreography: Park Ju-hwan Cast: Jeong Ji-eun, Lee Jeong-bin, Kim Hyeon-ho, Son Chae-yeon Composition: Kim Ji-san Duration: 20 minutes Kwak Min-u <Companion> Choreographer Introduction "Choreographer Kwak Min-u, who captures the weight of life contained in small objects through movement" He views the everyday, obvious existences through a new lens and explores the essence behind them. He translates the dictionary definitions and physical properties of objects that have always been by our side but have gone unnoticed into a language of the body, exquisitely portraying the multi-layered human psychology and the tension of relationships within them on stage. He focuses particularly on the subtle tremors and restrained movements that occur at the contact point where tools and the body meet, going beyond simple representation to pose fundamental questions about life through the essential value of the objects. In this way, he continues to work by communicating with the audience through movements drawn from the trivial. Work Description Companion [同行]: To walk together. Or a person who walks that path together. The work <Companion> began from the sentence, "A stick used for help while walking," which is the most essential definition of a cane. The work aims to capture on stage how this small tool that assists walking becomes the most reliable supporter for sustaining the weight of life, and through the exquisite balance created by the meeting of cold tools and warm bodies, it poses a question to the audience about "true companionship." Choreography: Kwak Min-u Cast: Kwak Min-u, Kim Hye-hyeon Duration: 20 minutes Kim Eun-ji <Eopu> Choreographer Introduction Kim Eun-ji focuses on breath, the structure of the body, and the way movements connect. As a Doctor of Dance from Sejong University, she explores the connectivity of the body and the possibilities of movement expansion based on developmental models and body awareness. Based on a structural understanding of the body, she unravels the sensations and flow of movement. Work Description To float on water, what is needed is not more strength, but the act of releasing tension. This work captures the process of a body that used to sustain itself with strength to endure, now floating as if swimming while accepting sensation and flow. The times of being unable to love oneself and the unspoken feelings remained in the body for a long time. The body, which shook but ultimately did not sink, now floats as if swimming, surrendering to the flow rather than resisting the waves. Choreography and Cast: Kim Eun-ji Costume: Baegyeongsul Composition: Jeon Chae-yeon Organization Introduction The Korea Contemporary Dance Association promotes the creative activities of artists and seeks to improve the quality of Korean contemporary dance and enhance its rights and interests through international cultural exchange in dance art. The association conducts projects to communicate with various artists as well as the public and to promote the enjoyment of contemporary dance across various generations. Major projects include the international contemporary dance festival "MODAFE," the choreographer and dancer matching project "Saengsaeng Dance Festival," the young artist nurturing project "New Debut," the "Korea Contemporary Dance Competition" which discovers promising dancers, and the "Night of Contemporary Dancers" which honors the contributions of artists who have contributed to the development of the Korean contemporary dance scene. The association will continue to strive to develop its historical projects by constantly seeking and exploring diverse and new operational methods, and aims to contribute to the continuous creative activities of artists and the expansion of the cultural enjoyment rights of the general public.