Episode 32: South Korean dance icon Eun Me Ahn on movement, colour, curiosity, and fantasy

Eun Me began training in Traditional Korean Dance at just 12 years old before attending Ewha Womans University in Seoul. She later continued her studies in New York, graduating from Tisch School of the Arts in 1994. During her time in the U.S., she refined her craft as a choreographer, exploring how to translate Korean dance philosophies onto the bodies of American dancers.

After 10 years in the States, Eun Me returned to Korea to become the Artistic Director of Daegu City Dance Company, where she created bold works featuring surreal costumes, daring stunts (including duets with live chickens and jumping from a crane to destroy a piano with an axe), and even choreographed the 2002 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

Now, Eun Me leads her own company. One of her latest works, 'Dragons', features a pan-Asian cast born in the Year of the Dragon (2000). Though conceived before the pandemic, it underwent significant changes due to the unprecedented situation. For example, it came to feature hologram projections of dancers who couldn't travel. 'Dragons' is currently touring the UK for a second time, with stops at Theatre Royal Newcastle, Eden Court Theatre, Alhambra Theatre, and Birmingham Hippodrome.

Before the tour kicked off, I had the privilege of chatting with Eun Me about 'Dragons', her creative process, and what she thinks of being dubbed “The Pina Bausch of Asia.”