Numbers are almost always a central part of attempts to translate China into a nation that Americans can comprehend. The statistics, after all, are impressive and unignorable – it’s a nation of 1.3 billion people where the economy is growing at 9 percent a year, and where a new coal-burning power plant goes up every week. (more…)
An intimate look at young people in modern China Saturday, Jun 21 2008
Asia & Oceania modern China, young people 3:39 pm
Hip-hop and tradition set the stage for a Moving time Friday, Jun 20 2008
Asia & Oceania asian hip hop, thai hip hop 12:26 pm
Last month, dialogue filled the Bangkok stage, as the number of theatre productions rose significantly. This month, dance has taken over. On the audience’s part, the loud applause and wild cheers remain the same.
Last week at Patravadi Theatre, the two-programme, four-day event “Hip Hop of the World” commenced with Cie Etha-Dam’s “Aduna, Land of Adventure”, shown on Wednesday and Thursday. With vibrant choreography and engaging soundscapes, seven skilful hip-hop dancers exceeded audience expectations of electrifying moves with a carefully crafted tale of a quest for a virgin and sacred land.
On Friday and Saturday, it was Asian hip-hop’s turn to rule the stage. In “Kham”, Laos-born, France-bred Ole Khamchanla started the night magically, guiding the audience through his life journey with a solo performance.
It was a tale of a search for identity amid the cultures of the West he has embraced and that of his country of origin, which is becoming increasingly foreign to him. Khamchanla came across as a true contemporary artist for seamlessly mixing hip-hop with traditional Laotian dance.
A sharp contrast was provided by the two subsequent pieces, “The Bench Story” and “The Spartan” by Thailand’s Free Soul, which came across as flashy, amateurish shows that were made more ridiculous by being overloaded with costumes involving leather vests and Roman armour.
Fortunately, “Ecoute”, a French-Thai production created as part of a workshop led by Kamchanla with Thai hip-hop dancers, did not share the same fate, as there was clever variety in the steps.
Finally, “Listen to Laos”, a production created in Laos and France by Vientiane’s Lao Bang Fai Company, really had the audience thrilled with its fine combination of hip-hop and Laotian arts that reflected contrasts between rural Laotian lifestyles and modern society’s ways.
At the Crescent Moon Space, B-Floor staged its debut of “Shatter Room No 0″. The characters in the play wanted to move on to a better place, like all of us do. They fought one another violently and strove to be different. Yet, they were still stuck in the same old room following the same routines.
“People do things to get something, but usually end up getting some other thing instead … That’s life,” remarked two characters.
Although this physical play may have been a bit too wordy, it carried the message – fittingly for our politics perhaps – that we have to learn to appreciate what we have even though it might not be what we really want. Acceptance, or tolerance in some cases, is the key.
I’m a sexy little girl Friday, Jun 20 2008
Asia & Oceania kitty zhang yuqi 12:16 pm
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Crystal Kay’s “Namida no Saki ni” PV Thursday, Jun 19 2008
Asia & Oceania crystal kay 2:55 am
Beijing hip-hop trio hopes Olympics will help pick up the beat Monday, Jun 16 2008
Asia & Oceania Beijing hip-hop, Beijing hip-hop trio, Olympics 8:42 am
Collaboration: Lee Hyo Ri & Kim Gun Mo Monday, Jun 16 2008
Asia & Oceania Collaboration, Kim Gun Mo, Lee Hyo Ri 2:28 am
Mighty Mouth’s Album Leaks, Go Figure Monday, Jun 16 2008
Asia & Oceania Album Leaks, Mighty Mouth 2:28 am
Original Run-D.M.C. Member to Perform at Hard Rock Cafe Monday, Jun 9 2008
American Hip Hop and Asia & Oceania Hard Rock Cafe, Run-D.M.C. 5:19 pm
Original Run-D.M.C. member Daryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels will perform at the Hard Rock Cafe Seoul on June 18. / Courtesy of Hard Rock Cafe
Who Knew Big Bang Had Swag? Monday, Jun 9 2008
Asia & Oceania Big Bang, faint 5:12 pm
