North Korea's secret spectaculars: First pictures of pariah country's stunning stage shows featuring 100,000 people


North Korea's famous mass games can be seen in close-up detail for the very first time - after a determined German photographer managed to convince communist party officials to grant him access to the national stadium.



The incredible displays feature over 100,000 people in the performing complex routines that include tens of thousands of gymnasts synchronizing movements in line with a background of card-turners who create an ever-changing backdrop.

The rapid changes of image sees one card exchanged for another in a swift and synchronized movement that takes hours of rehearsals and detailed choreography.

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Red dawn: Thousands of dancers in Communist North Korea perform carefully choreographed routines while board holders create amazing backdrops in the stadium behind them

Strictly commie dancing: Pictures of the amazing performances are being shown for the first time outside North Korea after a western photographer was granted rare access to the public stadium in Pyongyang

Photographer Werner Kranwetvogel, 40, captured the stunning shots after he being granted rare access to the communist country's public displays.

It took him close to a year to convince the strict communist party leadership to allow him to take photographs at the events.

He said: 'It took me nearly a year to get this permission and sometimes I was close to give up the whole thing. I tried all ways to make contact with North Korean officials, but nothing actually worked.

Card play: Thousands of participants quickly switch individual coloured cards to create the stunning, ever-changing changing backdrops

Board of control: Many of the giant backdrops feature government-sanctioned communist symbols

'The final negotiations actually took place in the stadium. The first night they put me on a VIP-seat very far from the playground. I explained them, what I was after and from the second night on, I was at the very edge of the playground on a place where no photographer has been before, nearly at eye-level with the performers.'

The displays are regularly performed in the nation to celebrate national holidays such as the birthdays of rulers Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

In recent years they have been the main attraction of the Arirang Festival in Pyongyang.

Soaring success: The board-turners combine to create a stunning image of flying birds

The performance is known as Arirang, named after a popular folk song in Korea, and takes place inside the 150,000 capacity May Day stadium

The performances are known as Arirang, named after a popular folk song in Korea, and take place at the 150,000 capacity May Day stadium.

About 20,000 performers form the background holding large books of cards, the pages of which flip simultaneously to produce the breathtaking routines.

Each performer is chosen in a rigorous selection process which lasts three to four months with only the best gymnasts taking a place in the final show.

Thousands of replacements are put on standby should any of their performance levels dip.

The displays are performed to celebrate national holidays such as the birthdays of leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il

Military pride: Young North Korean women dressed in naval uniforms pay tribute to the country's armed forces

Raw recruits: Enthusiastic youngsters join in with the dance moves

Berlin-based photographer and filmmaker Werner described it as his most 'mind-blowing' project to date.

He said: 'No one can prepare you for the moment, when you sit in this gigantic stadium, it is absolutely silent, the lights are dimmed and suddenly they are switched back on.

Collage: Berlin-based photographer and filmmaker Werner Kranwetvogel described it as his most 'mind-blowing' project to date

'The music starts and thousands of colourful dressed performers run towards you across the field and start the most amazing dance and artistic performance in absolute perfect synchronicity.

'This moment is just mind-blowing and it goes on like this for about two hours.

Breaking ranks: Some of the performers jump with joy as they display the colours of the North Korean flag

'It's a huge and colourful dance- and propaganda-show and the context North Korea is of course bound into the pictures.

'I wanted to add a different and surprising facet to the pictures most of the people have in mind, when they think about North Korea.

'I'm trying to look behind the cliche and look, what's actually there. And what is there in this stadium is one of the most bizarre and spectacular shows on earth.'

Each performer is chosen in a rigorous selection process which lasts three to four months with only the best gymnasts taking a place in the final show

The show organisers have thousands of replacements on standby should any of their performers fail to meet the exacting standards required



