Ahn Eun-mi's 1 min 59 sec. dance program gets spotlight in Paris

The "1 min. 59 sec. project," which is about ordinary people and not professional dancers dancing, was praised in Paris. French daily Le Figaro high praised this work, directed by modern dancer and choreographer Ahn Eun-mi, saying it showed the power of Korean vitality at a summer festival in Paris.

This project, which had received positive review in Korea as a stage for ordinary people's free dance, was introduced at a Korean culture week for the Paris summer festival. The culture week was held to commemorate the 130th anniversary of Korea-France's diplomatic relations. This year, Paris citizens were on the stage, and without any pre-set choreography, people could dance at their own will for 1 minute and 59 seconds.

Participants’ recruitment started in September last year for up to 100 people, and the application closed in two weeks with men and women in all ages and ranks in Paris applying. The audience, in 500 full seats, also danced along humming and moving their shoulders up and down.

"Though the feel of muscles are different, the heart and mind of French and Korean people were the same," Ahn said. "They seemed to ponder on love for family, freedom, ego, feminism and so on, and I also felt Korean people's characteristic feeling 'Han' from them."

Ahn had met the participants every week since April this year. "I have taught them nothing," she said. "I told them to dance for themselves since it is not for showing, to boast of and to be evaluated upon."

She doesn't have tailored teaching or performance for French people. She teaches them in Korean way.

"I'm a Korean person. French people seemed delighted to meet someone different," Ahn said. "When the performance ended, a French came to me and said he will come to Korea and live for a year. It was a rewarding moment."

When the performance was over, spectators also jumped on to the stage and joined dancing until late at night. This was also Korean style.

파리=동정민특파원 ditto@donga.com