flamenco emails ,dance of the soul 8

        IV. Dance of the soul 

 

 

1. bailaora flies to South Korea

 

 

In December, 2005 flamenco dancer, Lau  with a guitarist came

to Masan ,a city of Korea  for her performances. It is about 4 years

since Gohk met the bailaora in Portland . Gohk invited her

to 'Night of Flamenco',  two flamenco performances to be held

in the end of the year, one time in Masan and the other in Haman,

a county located near Masan. The shows were planned by both

Gohk himself and a Koran flamenco dancer named Jin.

 

 

 

Haman Art Center,

KyungNam, South Korea ,Dec. 2005

 

 Everyone. 

 Buenas dias!

Welcome to ' Night of Flamenco'.

Tonight Flamenco dance as an exotic culture of Spanish gypsies  

is to pay an unexpected visit you, penetrating into your heart.

Dancers' sad facial ｅxpression!

Their long arms shaping arch in elegant motions

with sudden stops between the violent footworks;

The skirt's whirlwind-like circlings;

And the fascinating guitar rhythm like silvery twinkling.

These will leave a deep impression on your minds.

 

 Flamenco song, dance and guitar playing :these requisites

have been the way of life and symbol of the poetic spirit

of Andalusian gypsies in Spain who have suffered

from social alienation and ill-treatment .

 

You will be surprised that flamenco dance is analogous in the origin

and spirituality to Salpury dance, a Korean traditional dance. Possible

it is thought to be so in that both dances come from  the sublimated

sorrow and wrath which people of their socially lower classes

with none to turn have had deeply in their heart.

 

'Flamenco is the means through which man reaches God

without the intervention of saints or angels', said a Spanish poet. 

I expect that everyone of you will enjoy sympathy with it.

 

Gracias,

Gohk  

Promoter

 

 

 

 

*Below

is the  pamphlet cover image

for < Night of Spanish Flamenco >

 

 

사진

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland Nov., 2005

 Dearest Gohk:

 

A reporter named Ina from the Oregonian newspaper will be

contacting you by email about my visit and performances.

I hope the information below I have given her

is correct:

 *You were inspired by my dancing

when you visited the studio in Portland

 *You sang Morning Dew for me and I agreed with the sentiment

similar to flamenco

 *We performed Morning Dew as Flamenco in 2001, in Portland

 *I have helped you to expose more Korean people to Flamenco

through our artistic collaboration, admiration and passion

 *I will perform 2 shows and premiere Morning Dew as Flamenco dance!

 

 I will see you in less than one week. 

Hard to believe it ! 

I do wish to make you proud!

 Abrazos,

 Lau

 

 

 

 

Portland, Aug. 2005

Hi Gohk!
Well, I would love to come there at your side on my own 
and perform to recorded music and perhaps collaborate with

a Korean dancer or yourself again. That would be so exciting!
Let me know what you think!!!
Love,
lau. 

 

 

Portland, Sept., 2005

Dearest Gohk
Thinking of you! 

Still hope to see you in Korea.
maybe winter?
 Abrazos,
 Lau

 

 

 

Masan, South Koreal, Sept., 2005

Dear Lau.
This time I never will lose the chance of your coming here.
Now it's okay for the idea of your dancing with recorded music.

But I think that till winter comes we have much time 

enough to find out the way for you to dance  with a guitarist

accompanying you.For I do not want you to dance just

with the recorded music.

I am sure I can get it this time. I have had contacts with a couple

of persons here, who gives me favorable clapping. As you know,

in case you come here, you are  to dance on the stage

with a flamenco group from Seoul ,and with a lady dancer

of Salpury, one of the Korean traditional dances.

 

And below are questions I want to ask of you:.
1, How long can you stay here?
2, Can a flamenco guitarist  fly here with you,

who will accompany you.
3,Can you dance the Morning Dew if I sing it on the
stage?
4, and May I get any material or pictures regarding
your dancing?

With happiness
Gohk

 

 

 

  Masan, Sept. 2005

 Hi, Lau:

 As a reply again.
Let's find out the way for you to come here within this winter.
First of all we had better share ideas for the thrifty expenditure

 in relation with your coming here with a guitarist .

Thinking of you,
Gohk

 

 

 

 

 

Masan, Oct., 2005

Dear Lau:
What month of the winter is better for you to come here?
The Haman Cultural Center side (I told them about our winter plan)

 is anxious to know when you will come here.

They promised that re guarantee for you as a guest bailaora

at least USD 000.00 up for one stage is possible.
Jin said that here preferabe is the beginning of the December,

the last month  of 2005 or within the middle of January

of the new year. Me and Jin together are expected to play

important roles for it. Fyi, a Seoul flamenco group is expected

to join us. Re their performance fee.the matter is now under

negotiation with the side of the group.

 

Then how much can I pay to a guitarist accompanying you

is now to be one of problems to solve.

 But I am sure I can find a way for it any way. At any rate,

 tomorrow or the day  after tomorrow I together with Jin

will meet again Mimi, the head  of Mimi dancing institute  

to discuss for our winter plan.

Waiting for yr rply
Gohk

 

Seoul, Oct., 2005
Dear Lau,

Re yr 1st question: dvd and cd would be ok.

I would love them as gifts. 

Re 2nd: Pls be comfortable and flexible for it.
You can adjust  your role as you want to do on the stage.

I never let you get burdensome and uncomfortable 

regarding your role in this performance.

I really want you just to enjoy this trip . 

 Re 3rd: You mean you bring books on flamenco with you?

 Lorca or Pohren?

Great! I would be very happy with either of the two books.

In love of flamenco and your dancing,
Gohk


 

 

Portland, Oct. 2005

 Hello Gohk!
  
The best time for me to come would be after December 10

and before January  15. I may only be able to come for 10 days,

 but we can see what we can  do.  However, I can arrange things

for any winter date I think!  I would like you to send me a letter d

escribing what I will do there and  the significance of my visit ,

 so I can approach the Korean community here for  
financing my airline ticket!
  
Exciting!!

Lau

 

 

 

 Portland, Nov. 2005

 Dear Gohk:
  Would you please tell me what the weather may be
like while we are  there?
 Thank you and see you soon!
You will be at the airport, correct? 

Will it be appropriate for me to hug you there?
 
Abrazos,
Lau

 

 

 

 Masan, Nov.

 Dear Lau!
Re Weather, will advise 1 week before the day.

At the airport you will find me, silver grey hairs flupping in the wind.

You find me looks older than at that time . You know

that 5 years or so have passed since I left Portand.

And you hug me at the airport?

No problem.

it would be wonderful to the eyes of

every Korean  there !

Gohk

 

 

 

 

Portland, Dec., 2005

 From: Ira,

 Staff writer,

 The Oregonian

 

 Dear Gohk
 I'm a reporter with the Oregonian newspaper in Portland,

 and I am interested in doing a story on Lau Miller and
the connection between Flamenco and Korean culture

 that you worked together to forge.
 I would love to talk with you about your impressions
of Lau and her work, your connection to Flamenco.

 

I would be happy to call  you, when it is convenient for you

over the coming days. Please let me know the best way to reach you.

Or we could communicate via email, but I think it would probably

be much better to speak directly. 
All the best,
Ina
 

 

 

 

Masan, Dec., 2005

 

Dear Ina
Happy to get this email from you.
It will be more comfortable for us to have conversations

through email exchange than by phone. 

I feel easier with writing and reading in English.
I think Lau would have no problems to give you
some information in relation with me.

She can tell you about me, how I came to love flamenco and

this time for what is Lau to fly to Korea where Gohk now lives.

Thank you so much,
Gohk