According to Chinese astrology, nobody can ignore those born in the Year of the Rabbit. Eun Me Ahn is certainly no exception. How could one ignore the unforgettable images she uses in her work such as a bubble-gum pink floor surrounded by carousel horses? Or a woman in a birdcage with a light-up heart, a skirt of red plastic spoons with a rubber lizard hanging out of her mouth, a human pinwheel, a cocoon of white paper, and swinging hammers as batons? Those familiar with her work have come to expect that it will "spill over with brilliant visual imagination and wit," as Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times writes, "but one is never quite prepared for the magic wrought by Ahn." One is also not prepared for Ahn's magical charm and whirling dervish positive energy at one's first encounter with this down-to-earth yet way out-there powerhouse.

When Spotlight caught up with Ahn, she had just returned from five months in Korea, during which time she was setting up her own studio in Seoul. The main purpose of the studio is to provide rehearsal space for her company, not to serve as a venue for classes. It's difficult to maintain a regular schedule of classes while living bi-continentally. However, according to Ahn, "If someone wants to learn something from me they can just call me." It's this openness that is so endearing.

In Korea she is loved to the point of being a "superstar." She is accepted by Korean audiences despite her shaved head and nudity in her work. Her critics used to ask why she had a shaved head or why she used nudity in her work; her answer, "It's just too beautiful." They ask less frequently now.

Beauty is a very personal thing. In her classes, Ahn asks students to think about how they are each unique, how they make their bodies their own, and how to be beautiful on stage. Encouraging individual beauty is the main concept of the class, but having fun is also very important. For Ahn, "later doesn't exist," so we need to seize the moment, yet at the same time she "loves getting old" because with maturity comes depth.

Ahn has presented five sold out New York City seasons to critical acclaim, both as a soloist and with her company. Renowned for her visually striking performances, in 1998, Ahn was awarded a Choreographer's Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Recently, Ahn has been touring in several Martha Clarke productions, and will perform in Clarke's future Broadway production, Blue Angel.

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Eun Me Ahn is performing October 12 and 13 at 8pm in the Scott Building at Smith College. She will also be teaching master classes/workshops which are open to the public. For more information and tickets call the Fine Arts Center Box Office at 413-545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS.