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Dance, music to mark visit by Korean sister city

BY SHELLIE BRANCO, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sbranco@bakersfield.com | Wednesday, Oct 3 2007 10:45 PM

Last Updated: Wednesday, Oct 3 2007 10:52 PM

Traditional Korean dance and music will highlight a weekend visit from officials of Bakersfield's arts-friendly sister city, Bucheon, South Korea.

Classical musicians and dancers will bring a bit of their culture to Cal State Bakersfield Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. The event is sponsored by the Bakersfield Sister City Project Corp.

Stanley Clark, president of the sister city group, said the partnership between Bucheon and Bakersfield was born last year. Among the delegates are Bucheon's mayor and the head of the city council, said Eun-Ja Park, sister city group member.

They'll be joined by the 35 performers and 14 Bucheon residents.

The crew will be here from Friday until Monday and the community can take part in the festivities.

Delegates sticking around Tuesday will visit the Kern County Museum, a family farm and Rosemary's Family Creamery, Clark said.

This weekend, the dancers will perform the traditional fan dance with large colorful fans, Park said.

The music emphasizes percussion, Clark said. Instruments include the violin-like haegum and the plucked, long-stringed kayakum.

Proceeds from the concert will help pay for their trip.

Here's their schedule:

Friday

• Opening banquet with social hour at 5:30 p.m., dinner around 6:30 p.m. Holiday Inn Select. Open to the public.

Saturday

• Ceremony honoring Tom Lewis, leader of the Korean War Veterans Association, 10 a.m. at Jastro Park.

• 7 p.m. dance performance

• Private Western-style barbecue hosted by Mayor Harvey Hall

Sunday

• Church in the morning

• Dance performance at 2 p.m.

• Afternoon golf game

• Farewell dinner, Panda Palace

• Private event hosted by Korean American Association

How to go

When: 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Doré Theater, Cal State Bakersfield

Cost: $35 general admission, $25 seniors and students, $40 at the door.

For more information: Obtain tickets from sister city members Eun-Ja Park, 654-3140, or Stanley Clark, 654-2475.