ARI PROJECT: Performing Arts
Korean Dance


Promoted by Korean American Dance Association


-Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 8pm
-Watch on: YouTube KCCLA
-For more Info: hannah@kccla.org or 323-936-3015


The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (Wijin Park, Director) and Korean American Dance Association (Eung Hwa Kim, Director) present a special online performance "Virtual Ari Project: Korean Dance" on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 8 PM.

The performance will feature various Korean traditional dances like Fan dance (Buchaechum), Untying evil spirits (Salpuri), Monk dance (Seungmu), Three Drum Dance (Samgomu).

The first dance performed is called Buchaechum, or Fan Dance. This dance is a more modernized style of Korean traditional dance. Similar to many of Korean cultures' origins, this dance is also influenced from Shamanistic dance movements, and music rhythms. The costumes, fans, choreography, and music all come together to create the image of flowers and butterflies in Spring.

The next dance is Salpuri. Unlike the previous, Fan Dance, Salpuri is considered to be one of the oldest preserved Korean traditional dances. There are many different interpretations of the meaning behind Salpuri. However, the Queen’s dance, the most widely known description of the Salpuri, is a portrayal of the Queen, dressed in all white, using one piece of white cloth to dance away her sorrows. Salpuri means the act of washing away your sorrows and removing any remaining grievances and regrets. Salpuri is considered one of the most advanced Korean traditional dances for Korean traditional dancers because of the small, yet detailed, slow but impactful dance movements.

Seungmu (Monk dance) is another more advanced dance in Korean Traditional Dance. This dance is usually performed as a solo act, just one dancer and one big drum. The influence of Seungmu is controversial. Some say the dance was derived from Shamanism. The dancer wears a Shamanistic costume and moves according to Shamanistic rhythms and dance movements. Others believe this dance originated from a Buddhist ritual dance. Wherever the dance’s origins, this dance is heavily influenced by a spiritual, religious theme. It is said to have been prohibited during the Joseon Dynasty Era due to the spiritual origin of the dance.

The various Korean dynasties created the Jinsoe Dance for celebratory court banquets. The dance was performed in ritual ceremonies to pray for national fortunes, longevity and prosperity, as well as for bountiful harvest for the people. Jinsoe Dance is the only dance that combines Royal Court dance styles with conventional Shamanistic dance movements.

The Three Drum Dance is usually performed by a group of 3, but can be performed by as many as 20 dancers. This dance requires much more teamwork and group movements than some of the other dances described above. Because the dancers and their drums are right next to one another, dancers must move in a synchronized manner. The Three Drum Dance, like the Fan Dance, is another modernized Korean traditional dance that blends both traditional dance movements with more contemporary Korean dance movements.

Due to the COVID pandemic, audience members will be able to stream the performances online at YouTube KCCLA.

Please enjoy the special performance 'Virtual Ari Project: Korean Dance’

All the KCCLA's performances will be introduced on the website of the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles, YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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-PROGRAM NOTE-

* Performance commentary: Hannah Hwang

1. Korean Fan dance (Buchaechum)
Eunice Kang, Christina Hahn, Hana Lee, Angela An, Joanne Shim, Sophia Kim, Heather Yang

2. Untying evil spirits (Salpuri)
Eung Hwa Kim, Jung Ae No

3. Jinsoe Dance
Jung Ae No

4. Monk dance (Seungmu)
Eung Hwa Kim, Jung Ae No, So Young Kim, Angie Kwon, Pearl Yum, Amanda Chang, Karen Kim

5. Three Drum Dance (Samgomu)
Ellen Lim, Eunice Kang, Hana Lee