Seven Senior Members of the National Dance Company Recreate Traditional Solo Dance 'Holchum'

Premiere at Byeoloreum Theater on the 27th-28th

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The National Dance Company, the resident troupe of the National Theater, will premiere its new work "Holchum" at Byeoloreum Theater on the 27th and 28th.

"Holchum" consists of seven solo dances that vary the movements, composition, and aesthetic sensibility of traditional Korean dance. Seven mid-career members who have trained in traditional dance for over 30 years (Kim Won-kyung, Yoon Sung-chul, Park Jae-soon, Park Young-ae, Cho Soo-jung, Lee So-jung, Jung Hyun-sook) will showcase their seasoned dance skills.

Through this new work, the seven mid-career members demonstrate their abilities as choreographers. Each expresses tradition reinterpreted in their own way through their unique dance movements. Since the performance takes place in the immersive Byeoloreum Theater, the audience is expected to feel the dancers' delicate footwork and hand movements, as well as the subtle changes in facial expressions and gaze.

The seven pieces presented in "Holchum" were selected in April through a work contest for National Dance Company members, themed on the re-creation of traditional dance. After a mid-term rehearsal in August, the works were refined with advice from experts in the dance field.

Kim Won-kyung presents a dance of longing for parents through the fan sanjo "Geumhyangmu," expressing it with the lonely melody of the geomungo.

Yoon Sung-chul, the principal dancer of the National Dance Company who has appeared in over 100 works, presents "Sansan·Susoo," a hanryangmu inspired by the hearty figure of a man enjoying pungsu (artistic leisure). By weaving the ever-changing principles of nature into the existing work, he shows a new aspect of hanryangmu.

Park Jae-soon's "Bodeum Go" conveys warm consolation through drum sounds and dance. Notably, it draws attention by combining the newly attempted Seungmu drum rhythm with the Jindo drum dance.

Park Young-ae's "Life-Puri" is a work that harmonizes the sorrow of the Salpuri dance with the elegance of the Tongyeong Jin dance. It depicts the joys and sorrows of life, retracing footsteps and reflecting deeply on life.

Cho Soo-jung's "Sansumokjuk" sublimates the artistic achievements and profound inner world of Shin Saimdang, a representative female artist of the Joseon Dynasty, into dance. It offers the enjoyment of watching poetry and paintings expressed through a fan replacing a brush and delicate, dignified movements.

Lee So-jung's "Puneori," based on Salpuri and mudang (shaman) dances, newly recreates the process of driving away evil spirits and cleansing the body by connecting a long cloth and bells to a stick, using circular and curved dance movements.

Jung Hyun-sook's "Simhyangjijeonmu" is a dance that maximizes the intensity and sanctity of the shinkaldaesinmu, originating from shamanism, creating a new ritual dance that sublimates han (deep sorrow) into sinmyeong (ecstasy).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.