Seoul's 'Ilmu' Performance Blends Old and New in Mesmerizing Dance Show

Poster for "Ilmu", courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater

The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre is set to showcase its modern interpretation of a traditional dance, “Ilmu,” at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from May 25-28. Directed by Jung Ku-ho, the performance is a reinterpretation of Jongmyo Jeryeak, a royal ceremonial performance involving dance, music and singing, which was part of ancestral rites at Jongmyo Shrine during the Joseon Dynasty. With 55 dancers performing, the show aims to exhibit the balance and harmony of classic Joseon court dance. While “Ilmu” traditionally includes two dances, “Munmu” and “Mumu,” this year’s performance includes an entirely new piece, “Jungmu,” as the third act.
 

▲ Poster for "Ilmu", courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater
Revamping Traditional Dance

Jung and the creative directors of “Ilmu” described the show’s choreography as a reinterpretation rather than a reenactment. Compared to the previous three-act show, this year’s production has been reorganized into four acts, with redundant scenes scrapped and a new piece added. Jung explained during a press conference that the costumes for the first act’s “Mumu” were changed from traditional dark red to a bright orange, giving the performance a contemporary edge. Similarly, the music has been transformed from the original grand music, with composer Kim Jae-duk focusing on minimalism and adding the cello, contrabass, and a synthesizer for a hybrid sound.

Group Dance to Humble Oneself

During the rehearsal, the female dancers performed “Chunaengmu” from the second act, originally a solo court dance created by Crown Prince Hyomyeong in 1828. The dance has been transformed into a group performance for the show. According to choreographer Jung Hye-jin, the artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre, the overall theme of “Ilmu” is to “dance in unison.” Jung emphasized the energy required to perform synchronized movements and added that the group dance is a testament to humbling oneself to achieve a common goal.

Traditional to Contemporary

“Jungmu,” the newly added third act, features 40 poles symbolizing a bamboo forest with male dancers performing between them holding 7-meter rods. Jung Ku-ho described how bamboo symbolizes uprightness and royalty, and how the act is a “tense” stepping stone between the traditional and contemporary elements of the show. The director, known for infusing modern aesthetics into traditional dance, expressed his goal of showcasing how contemporary traditional dance can be. Discussions are already underway to bring “Ilmu” to the Lincoln Center in New York later this year.

Sayart.net 

BlueYIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com