Video: Sounds of Korea
A demonstration of traditional Korean music and dance, courtesy of the Library of Congress and Sounds of Korea.
Music and dance played an important role in traditional Korean societies, from shamanic dances and touring folk troupes to elite court dancers. The Joseon dynasty, which reigned from 1392 to 1912, sponsored a wide variety of formal dances, most performed by highly trained young women known as gisaeng. Through the turbulent 20th century, dedicated artists kept these forms alive for modern audiences to enjoy. These older dances now exist alongside South Korea’s thriving music industry, which is most famous for its international pop scene.
This video from the Library of Congress showcases traditional music and dance from the Korean Peninsula, as performed by the New-York-based Sounds of Korea.
From the Library of Congress:
Sounds of Korea is part of the New-York-based Korean Performing Arts Center (KPAC), consisting of a dance troupe, an instrumental chamber ensemble and a percussion ensemble. Korean performance art includes a wide range of styles and settings, such as classical court music, theatrical masked dance, popular storytelling songs, drama, popular narrative vocal arts, and solo instrumental folk genres, as well as the percussion music and dances of farmers.
The group's artistic emphasis is on the subtle grace and beauty found in Korean traditional dances in which the dancers with powerful, yet delicate, gestures and movements reveal a unique aesthetic beauty. The dance troupe was founded and developed by Sue Yeon Park at the organization's inception in 1993, and has maintained an active performance schedule over the past 20 years. Under Park's direction, the organization has performed and hosted performances at major concert venues in the U.S., including Lincoln Center, national museums and national festival stages, introducing Korean music and dance to a wide array of audiences of diverse cultural backgrounds.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
