Korean dance: features, types

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

One of the important assets of the people of Korea and an integral part of its culture are national dances.

This kind of art allows the viewer to get acquainted with the bright and original culture of the country. Folk dance is specific, varied, bright and beautiful. It contains many complex and interesting elements. They are divided into a large number of types and styles of a wide variety of directions (folk, court, shamanic, ritual, dancing with fans, etc.).

History of the development of dance

The history of the formation of Korean national dance has thousands of years. Documents and numerous architectural evidence show that Korean dance originated about 3,000 years ago. This is evidenced even by the wall paintings in Muryongshong or the Tomb of the Dancers, dating back to the Koguryo period.

All this came from the ancient rituals of shamans. The dance changed under the influence of Buddhism, Christianity, as well as the traditions and cultures of neighboring countries, especially China.

Features of Korean dance

Korean dance is colorful and varied. Its metaphysical philosophy is based on a peculiar idea that the human body is the Universe. The existence of people inideal lies in the constant striving to keep the inner world in harmony with the surrounding heavenly and earthly manifestation of life.

The dance itself basically combines, on the one hand, plasticity and light flow of poses and forms, and on the other hand, wide energetic and swift unexpected movements.

Types of Korean dances: a brief description

Korean culture (especially dance) is beautiful and quite diverse. It has a huge variety of different types of dances.

Korean dance of the Confucian rite is a mass performance in which 64 dancers participate in 8 rows. And it is performed to the Confucian ritual melody. His main movements are slow and smooth tilts to the beat of the music.

Chakpop also refers to ritual dances. It symbolizes a prayer for souls directed to the Buddha.

The Butterfly Dance is performed by the nuns of monasteries (Buddhist).

Dance with cymbals - male (it is performed by monks).

Dance with a drum - solo. Only one man dances in it.

Peasant dance is the most popular. It demonstrates energetic and dynamic movements with high jumps. In such dances, improvisations are more often used. The most popular of them is Thalchmum, performed in masks. This is a kind of small production (theatrical) filled with comic skits that make fun of the nobility and the upper class.society.

Shamanic Korean dance symbolizes requests and prayers to the spirits for appeasement. Such dances fascinate with their smoothness. An important role in them is played by emotional saturation and compliance with the rhythm.

It is believed that dances with fans originated from the performance of the rite with leaves by shamans. Subsequently, they became one of the most exquisite dances in Korea. The famous Buchaechum fan dance was first shown to the public in 1954. It belongs to the new traditional dances. This show is a mesmerizing sight. The light swaying of beautiful fans calls for harmony in the world.

The dances of the courtiers were performed in rich, colorful costumes, showing the graceful and beautiful movements of the performers. Incredibly beautiful views contain various beautiful transitions and gestures.

Korean dance girls with drums are elegant and energetic. They also belong to the types of Korean folk dance. The most diverse rhythms of drums are synchronously displayed in the movements of the dancers. These dances demonstrate the unity of man with nature and the rebirth of a new life.

Dance costumes

Costumes for folk dances are very colorful. Court dances are performed in lavish robes, demonstrating subtle and graceful movements. These choreographed movements are fluid and contain many beautiful positions and gestures.

Now such dances are shown only at cultural performances performed by the best choreographers in the country.

ModernKorean dance

The beginning of the formation of modern Korean dance is mainly associated with the names of Choi Seung-hee and Cho Thak Won, who actively worked during the periods of Japanese colonial rule. The ballet troupe (in Seoul) was created after the liberation from the yoke (late 1940s). It was the first professional group (modern and classical dances).

The first Western music that appeared in Korea in 1893 was Christian hymns. And in 1904 this new music began to be taught in schools. Changa, a completely new kind of song played to Western melodies, sounded all over the country.

In modern Korea, a huge number of courses, groups, schools have been created that teach and develop the technique of dance art among young people. Korean dance is improving.

Today, young people in Korea also perform many modern club dances.