Comic Dance Festival / June 9, 2015 by Tyler Wood

An empty stage, brightly lit, sits empty. Then a shoe flies from stage left right into the middle of the stage. Then another shoe, and another. By the end of the opening sequence a street shoe stall had been thrown onto the stage and then seemingly confused ajjumas appear and act as if they are shopping with a male barker helping them find the shoes of their dreams. They put their shoes back on and the group of about 10 ajjumas, one ajoshi, and a random young guy slowly begin to enter a drum circle, it seems, and start hippie interpretive dancing to Korean trot music. At one point they have a circle mirror dance going where everyone is following the unchoreographed moves of one of their own at a music stand before that devolves into a conga line that includes random ass slaps.

Korean Visa Renewal (Sejongno) / February 17, 2015 by Tyler Wood

There is some conflicting information on the web about the Sejongno Immigration branch. Some sites are still posting the old address near Anguk Station and I even found an address for the new one that is a few blocks off that can get people turned around. On the government website it is still an additional click about the change, even though it is over a year old. If you are new to renewing your visa, recently moved or are moving to North Seoul from another branch, or have forgotten then this is for you.

Halloween Exotic Dance Party / November 11, 2014 by Tyler Wood

This was the second year I have been able to attend Hellow Pinup Star Pole & Exotic Dance Halloween Party in Cheongdam. This is a more intimate performance than the Korea Pole Sport Championship and less stress for the performers. It is a much more relaxed and encouraging environment. Many of the performers were students, in fact. The show got kicked off with a bang with the T.I.P. Crew putting on a breakdance clinic. Including some pretty amazing moves from a guy missing a leg. It was a better performance than the one they did for the KPSC show. More intricate and in sync.

Korea Pole Sport Championship / October 9, 2014 by Tyler Wood

On September 27th at Kookmin University, past the children in amoeba-shaped groups hovering over a soccer ball on a field and their attentive parents with drinks to rush to them at half-time, was something far more interesting. A sport that includes large colorful eyelashes, six-pack abs, and a vertical pole. It wasn’t pole vaulting, it was one of the largest pole dancing events in Korea - The Korea Pole Sport Championship.