Korea Presentation or Travel: Korea Fantasy by the National Dance Company of Korea – Brilliant but delicate, elegant but dynamic dance moves!

Korea Fantasy by the National Dance Company of Korea – Brilliant but delicate, elegant but dynamic dance moves!

The National Dance Company of Korea presents its signature traditional dance repertoire, which features traditional Korean dances, the fan dance, Jindo Ganggangsullae, and the hourglass drum dance, as well as original shows, such as ‘Chunseol (spring snow)’ and ‘Gido (prayer)’.
The Korean traditional dance performances 'Motion Amidst Rest' and 'Rest Amidst Motion' exquisitely express a calm and powerful energy and the features associated with traditional Korean dance. In addition, it also demonstrates uniquely Korean sentiments like 'Heung’ (merriment) and 'Han’ (sadness and woe), in their movements. The following is a description of Korea Fantasy.

One morning at the palace, the queen starts a busy morning ritual with her court ladies. She gets dressed up, is greeted by the ladies, and then welcomes the king. The palace is surrounded by dragons and diggers protecting it from evil. In such luxurious surroundings, court ladies carry out their busy daily routines. Their routines are expressed by the Hansam (sleeve extension) dance.

The court officials who serve to the King and carry out the nation’s administrative work are the main characters in this dance. Only male dancers feature in this piece that expresses the conflict between the two parties of court officials through its restrained and modern movements. The dance is powerfully choreographed and props are used.

The fan used in this dance is decorated with a print of the flower of creation. The fan was used by the Mudang (Korean shaman) to show symbolic images of natural phenomenon. The fan dance incorporates Korean dance moves that illustrate a dynamic harmony of lines and faces.

This piece was inspired by the most famous love story of the Jose on Dynasty, ‘Chunhyangjeon’ (Chunhyang’s story). This couple dance is about a young couple, Chunhyang from a Korean geisha family and Mongnyong from a noble family, who overcame the disparity in their respective social standings.

Jindo Ganggangsullae is a song and dance accompaniment that originated on Jindo (island) in the Honam region in Korea. It used to be performed by women on the night of Korean Thanksgiving, under a full moon. A group of women gather under a full moon to sing and dance. The dance consists of various movements, including Notdaribapgi, Gosariggeokgi, and clapping.

The background music titled ‘Sound of Night’ reminds one of a person waiting for somebody, under a bright moon, but no one appears but the wind. ‘Chunseol’ is a dance expressing the harmony of flower which the dancer holds and dancer’s body in restrained movements. The flower serves as a medium to deliver the spirit of the land and the love of heaven.

The hourglass drum dance is a feature traditional dance involving the use of hourglass drums. Dancers move in uniform movements to various rhythms. This dance reveals the charm of the hourglass drum, which used to be played in Samulnori (traditional Korean percussion quartet) or as an instrument for background music. This dance also symbolizes music since it expresses high and low beats and strong and soft rhythms through dance movements.

The small hand drum used in Pungmulnori is called a Sogo. The Sogo is important not because of the sound it makes but because of the movements that can be made with it. It enhances the merriment of the dancers and audiences with the harmonious combination of Sogo and the sound of footsteps - in other words, the harmony of body and music.

This worship-type dance shows Korean shaman praying for a happy and peaceful world by presenting lamps, incense, and flowers at an alter. Dancers wish for the harmonious coexistence of the universe and mankind by untying a knot, which symbolizes resentment, to comfort souls bearing a grudge.

Established in 1962, the National Dance Company of Korea, the representative dance company in Korea, is ongoing in its efforts not only to inherit traditional dances but also to re-express them in more modern styles. Moreover, through various overseas performances, it has revealed the glamorous and delicate taste of traditional Korean dance to the world.

For the past half century, the National Dance Company of Korea has expressed the sentiment of Korean people and the beauty of Korean culture in dance performances. In addition, through 1,000 regional and overseas performances, it has presented great stages that have touched the dance fans of the world. The National Dance Company of Korea, with its numerous repertoires, staging experiences, and 60 skilled and talented dancers, is continuing its efforts to preserve traditional Korean dance and reinterpret them in a modernized way.