One Asia in Dance

Dongnae Hakchum

Republic of Korea·Dongnae, Busan

Performer
Busan National Gugak Center Dance Company
Date of Performance
Oct 17, 2012
Characteristics
·Dancer performed by officials in government offices or men of leisure at brothels
Artistic director
 
Choreographer
 
picture of Dongnae Hakchum
  • picture of Dongnae Hakchum
  • picture of Dongnae Hakchum
  • picture of Dongnae Hakchum
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This is a reconstruction of the hakchum (crane dance), transmitted in Dongnae, Busan. Hakchum was so named because of its resemblance to the movements of cranes, but is not meant to be a realistic imitation. It was performed by officials in the Dongnae government office, or men of leisure in brothels, within the context of the strict class system of Joseon. It is modest but elegant and dignified. Characteristic moves include the waving of the arms, standing with one foot raised, the stretching and folding of wings, and the baegimsae step, performed by lightly swaying left and right or bobbing up and down with the left leg bent and placed in front, and right foot stretched behind.

Keun Taepyeongmu

Republic of Korea

Performer
Mongolian National Song and Dance Academic Ensemble
Date of Performance
Aug 27, 2017
Characteristics
∙20th century adaptation of a shamanic dance performed at danggut rituals
Artistic director
Kim, Mi-SookProfessor, Gyeongsang National University. Chairperson, One Asia in Dance Organizing Committee. Director, Asian Dance Culture Institute. Graduate of Seungmu, National Intangible Cultural Heritage 27.
Choreographer
 
picture of Taepyeongmu
  • picture of Taepyeongmu
  • picture of Taepyeongmu
  • picture of Taepyeongmu
  • picture of Taepyeongmu
  • picture of Taepyeongmu
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The Keun Taepyeongmu is a version of the Taepyeongmu, rearranged as a mass dance. Taepyeongmu is a court dance depicting the King and Queen dancing to pray for peace and prosperity in the nation. It is thought to have been created in the early 20th century by Han Seong-jun, the father of modern Korean dance, based on the shamanic music and dance of the danggut rituals from Gyeonggi Province.

Taepyeongmu is visually impressive, with elaborate and grand costumes influenced by court dances. The movements are full of energy, and set to complex and precise rhythms. The steps feature techniques such as gyeob georeum, jan georeum, raising the knee, and heel stomping and raising, timed to the changing rhythms, which are mesmerizing yet restrained. The highly technical steps are unique to this dance and give it its unmistakable style.