The Sands Macao Hotel and hip-hop. Not two words you’d traditionally put together. After all, the theatre at the Sands is more famous for hosting cheesy bands such as Air Supply and Bjorn Again, while hip-hop is more, well, street. But at the end of May, dynamic Korean hip-hop sensations Arctian are set to take to the stage, in the Macau premier of their new show that combines hip-hop moves and theatrical effects. But why the odd moniker? Director Mike Lee explains, “Arctian is named after the botanical word for moth, their habit is to follow lights. We connect this to people who challenge difficult situations led by their beliefs. The light for us is a world class dancing performance.”

Although hip-hop first hit Korea in the early 1990s, it quickly became hugely popular, so much so that Korean hip-hop dancers are now ranked among the best in the world. However, they still lack opportunities to display their skills in the public eye, as Lee reveals: “Most dancers appear onstage at certain events to boost up the main event. We wanted to make them the main character so we can develop their movements. We figure that public stage performance is the next step.”

The show itself will consist of hip-hop with a theatrical twist, combining the four elements of rap, DJ, graffiti, and break dance (within the latter are numerous variations of urban dance, such as B-boy, locking, and popping). “But if we show them on the stage as they are now it does not differentiate from any other street or battle competitions,” adds Mike. In order to counter that, Arctian have added holographic effects, costuming, and storylines including conflicts of friendship, love, betrayal and competitiveness.

Lee has already presented similar shows worldwide, including at the Edinburgh Festival and Broadway’s La MaMa E.T.C. theatre. He is “thrilled, proud and happy” to be bringing Arctian to the Sands, and can’t wait to see how the audience will react, explaining that even people unfamiliar with hip-hop will find something to enjoy. “I like to say it [hip-hop] is a form of cross-cultural communication, a lifestyle, a language, a fashion, connecting the past and the present, linking youth between the nations.”As hip-hop culture is over 30 years old, the show will also contain 1980s style music, as well as elements of comedy to broaden its overall appeal.

Eventually, Arctian hope to have a permanent venue on Macau’s Cotai Strip, which would ensure the heady mix of hip-hop and theatre is something we all become familiar with. As Lee sums up, Arctian’s motto is “Born on the street, live on stage."

Mel Coghlan

The Arctian show premieres at the Sands Macao Theatre, Sands Macao Hotel on Friday 22 at 8pm, with subsequent shows on Saturday 23, 4pm & 8pm; Sunday May 24, 6pm; May 29, 8pm; May 30, 4pm & 8pm;May 31, 6pm.