South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn brings multi-disciplinary spectacle Dragons to Milton Keynes Theatre this month.
Dragons represent resilience, joy and optimism in Asia. This vitality has inspired a colourful production that promises to thrill theatregoers with a vibrant mix of lively dance, eclectic music, stunning projections and striking costumes.
The choreography, which blends traditional and modern dance styles from across Asia, is combined with cutting-edge technology to create a kaleidoscope of past and present. Expect the action to dive deep into lakes, trek through forests, soar through the sky and ultimately look to the future as the Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company dancers embody, and engage with, the wonders of Ahn’s wild imagination.
Eun-Me Ahn, who is now in her sixties, discovered dance as an energetic and excitable child, but did not start taking technique classes until she was twelve. She graduated in contemporary dance in Seoul and established her self-named company in 1988. Her strong feminist views have influenced her appearance and approach – shaving her head and wearing bold colours was her way of rejecting the traditional Korean view of women, which she describes as “long hair, good girl, charming wife”. She regularly challenges attitudes towards age and gender roles with acclaimed intergenerational works, presented in theatres and festivals around the world.
In Dragons Eun-Me Ahn includes assorted young Asians (from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan) as guest performers. All born in 2000 – a Year of the Dragon – they appear as holograms who share their fresh perspectives on how the past and the future can coexist. Technological wizardry sees them interact on the stage with Eun-Me Ahn and her company of seven South Korean dancers.
The on-stage dancers are Hyekyoung Kim, Seyeon Kim, Hyeonseo Lee, Gaon Han, Sunjae Jo, Deokyeong Kim, Yongsik Moon and Eun-Me Ahn herself. The on-screen guest performers are Nur Syahidah Binti Hazmi, Akari Takahashi, Jiwan Jung, Siiko Setyanto, Dwi Nusa Aji Winarno and Guan Ting Zhou.
The creative team comprises Eun-Me Ahn (choreography, sets and costumes), Jinyoung Jang (lighting design), Taeseok Lee (video and projection) and Jang Young-Gyu (music).
Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company’s Dragons is touring nationwide thanks to support from Dance Consortium, which invites must-see international contemporary dance companies to visit venues across the UK. The regional theatres that are part of the consortium unite for the benefit of dance-loving and dance-learning audiences. Previous Dance Consortium tours include enthralling Canadian collective The 7 Fingers and celebrated South African dancer and choreographer Dada Masilo, who died unexpectedly in December 2024 after a brief illness.
Opening night of Dragons at each tour venue includes a post-show Q&A (free for ticket holders).
Running time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, with no interval.
Contains strobe lighting, sudden light changes and haze.
Age guidance: 8+
*Production photography by Foteini Christofilopoulou.
Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company’s Dragons is at Milton Keynes Theatre on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 March 2025. The UK tour continues until 26 March 2025.
This preview is also featured on Total MK.
Update 17 March 2025: Read my review of Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company’s Dragons at Milton Keynes Theatre.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher.
