Traditional dance, pansori, and nongak converge on a single stage, not as preserved forms, but as living performance.
The Ryu Dance Company will stage “Joseon and Now” on April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Jeonju Daesaseupcheong. The production reframes traditional arts into a language that today’s audience can feel, not just recognize.
The performance unfolds in three acts. The first, “Modernizing Tradition,” reinterprets communal play through contemporary stage design. Jeonju nongak anchors the act with its distinct rhythmic structure and individual play elements. “Imagined Ganggangsullae” reshapes the familiar circle dance through lighting and wave-like ensemble movement, while “Imagined Fan Dance” builds on the traditional buchae dance rooted in the Pyongan Province tradition, emphasizing sculptural lines and controlled group formations.
The second act, “Harmony of Tradition,” brings pansori and dance into direct dialogue. “Sarangga” revisits a well-known passage from Chunhyangga, tracing love, separation, longing, and joy within a condensed stage composition. This is followed by “The Royal Inspector’s Return,” a reinterpretation of the reunion scene with the secret royal inspector, where satire and emotional tension unfold simultaneously through voice and movement.
The third act, “Reinterpretation of Tradition,” presents the company’s most distinct perspective. “Reimagining Seonipmu” transforms a traditionally male dance into a female ensemble work, shifting its visual and rhythmic identity. “Reimagining Salpuri” revisits the salpuri tradition of the Yi Maebang lineage, preserving its core elements such as han, release, and stillness within motion, while expanding its dialogue with contemporary stage language. The lingering motion of the white cloth remains central to its emotional resonance.
The finale, “Korean Aesthetics II,” unites pangut, mask dance, and traditional choreography into a single integrated stage. Sound and movement build toward shinmyeong, a Korean sense of collective joy and vitality, as the performance culminates in a dynamic, immersive sequence.
Direction is led by Yoo Young-soo, artistic director of the Ryu Dance Company, who also oversees production. A certified practitioner of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Seungmu, Yoo brings both technical authority and contemporary vision to the stage. The cast features the Ryu Dance Company, with special guest Song Jae-young, recognized as a holder of Simcheongga in Jeonbuk.
“Joseon and Now” will be performed on April 25 at 7 p.m. at Jeonju Daesaseupcheong.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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