Korean dance: features, types

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, diverse, bright and beautiful. It contains a lot of complex and interesting elements. They are divided into a large number of types and styles of a variety of areas (folk, court, shaman, ritual, dancing with fans, etc.).

History of dance development

The history of the formation of Korean national dance has thousands of years. Documents and numerous architectural evidences tell us that the Korean dance originated about 3000 years ago. This is evidenced even by the wall paintings in Murjongshong or the Tomb of the Dancers, dating from the Koguryo period.

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

Features of Korean dance

Korean dance is colorful and diverse. His metaphysical philosophy is based on a peculiar idea that the human body is the Universe. The existence of people in the ideal consists in the constant striving to maintain in harmony the inner world with the heavenly and earthly manifestation of life surrounding them.

In itself, the dance combines, on the one hand, plasticity and easy flow of poses and forms, and on the other - wide energetic and rapid unexpected movements.

Types of Korean Dances: A Brief Description

Korean culture (dance) is beautiful and quite diverse. There are a lot of different kinds of dances in it.

The Korean dance of the Confucian rite represents a mass performance, in which 64 dancers, lining up in 8 rows, participate. And it is performed under the Confucian ritual melody. Its main movements are slow and smooth slopes to the beat of the music.

Chakopop also refers to ritual dances. It symbolizes the plea for souls directed towards the Buddha.

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

With cymbals, dance is male (it is performed by monks).

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

Peasant dance is most popular. Here you can see energetic and dynamic movements with high jumps. In such dances improvisations are more often used. The most popular of them is Thalchmum, which is performed in masks. This is a kind of small staging (theatrical), filled with comic sketches, ridiculing the nobility and representatives of the upper class of society.

Shamanic Korean dance symbolizes requests and entreaties to spirits about pacification. Such dances fascinate with their smoothness. An important role in them is played by emotional saturation and matching with rhythm.

It is believed that the dances with fans originated from the execution by the shamans of a rite with leaves. Subsequently they became one of the most exquisite dances of Korea. The famous dance Puchechhum with fans was first shown to the public in 1954. It refers to new traditional dances. This view is a fascinating sight. The gentle swaying of beautiful fans calls for harmony in the world.

Dances of courtiers were performed in rich, colorful costumes, demonstrating graceful and beautiful movements of performers. Incredibly beautiful views contain various beautiful transitions and gestures.

Korean dances of girls with drums are elegant and energetic. They also belong to the kinds of folk Korean dance. The most varied rhythms of the 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.

Costumes for dances

Suits for folk dances are very colorful. The court dances are performed in lush robes, demonstrating subtle and graceful movements. These choreographic movements are smooth and contain many beautiful positions and gestures.

Now such dances are shown only on cultural performances performed by the best choreographers of the country.

Modern Korean dances

The beginning of the formation of modern Korean dance is mainly connected with the names of Choi Son Hee and Cho Thak Von, who worked actively during the periods of Japanese colonial rule. The ballet troupe (in Seoul) was created after liberation from the yoke (late 1940's). It was the first professional collective (modern and classical dances).

The first Western music, which appeared in Korea in 1893, was the hymns of Christians. And in 1904 this new music began to be taught in schools. Throughout the whole country changa was heard - an entirely new kind of songs performed on the melody of Western works.

In modern Korea, created a huge number of courses, teams, schools, teaching and developing in young people the technique of dance art. Korean dance is improving.

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