Four distinguished former artistic directors of the National Dance Company of Korea are bringing their most celebrated choreographic works back to the stage in a special year-end program titled 'Living Legacy.' The performances will take place at the National Theater of Korea's Haeorum Theater next month, featuring signature pieces by masters Cho Heung-dong, 84; Bae Jung-hye, 81; Kim Hyun-ja, 78; and Guk Su-ho, 77. These legendary choreographers have fundamentally shaped the evolution of Korean dance over the past several decades.
The program connects multiple generations of Korean dance, bridging the artistic legacy of these four masters with today's performers. Lee Seung-yeon, born in 2002 and the youngest member of the National Dance Company, exemplifies this intergenerational connection as she performs in Guk's 'Tibetan Sky.' "This project connects the history of these four masters from the past to the present," Lee explained, highlighting the significance of preserving and continuing Korea's rich dance heritage.
The 'Living Legacy' program will be presented in a double-bill format across four evenings, pairing two works each night. Audiences can experience Bae's 'Soul, Sunflower' alongside Guk's 'Tibetan Sky' on December 17-18, while Kim's 'Looking at the Plum Blossom' will be paired with Cho's 'The Gallant' on December 20-21. This carefully curated pairing allows viewers to appreciate different artistic styles and approaches within Korean contemporary dance.
Bae Jung-hye brings extensive experience from major international events, having served as chief choreographer and general director for the 2005 APEC Summit in Busan. Her work 'Soul, Sunflower' holds the distinction of being the first original piece from the National Dance Company to tour internationally. The piece offers a contemporary interpretation of salpuri, a traditional Korean dance of purification and release, expressing the profound sorrow and longing of a mother mourning her son. Its innovative fusion of traditional Korean dance with jazz music initially drew widespread acclaim when it premiered in Korea in 2006, leading to sold-out performances in Germany in 2010 and in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2011.
Guk Su-ho, who made history as the National Dance Company's first male dancer, has choreographed for some of Korea's most prestigious events, including the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. His 1998 work 'Tibetan Sky' emerged from a particularly challenging period in Korean history and reflects a deep desire to overcome the hardships of that time. During a recent press rehearsal, dancers demonstrated the piece's powerful energy, shouting like warriors charging into battle while pairs of performers moved together like a single bird, creating sweeping gestures that symbolize freedom and transcendence.
The creation of 'Tibetan Sky' was born out of necessity during the IMF financial crisis, when the dance company faced severe budget constraints that prevented them from inviting guest choreographers or performers. "In a moment of national crisis, I wanted to search for a form of dance that could become nourishment for the spirit," Guk recalled. "Through the Eastern idea of reincarnation, I sought to rediscover the value of life and spiritual heritage." This philosophy deeply influences the work's spiritual and uplifting themes.
Kim Hyun-ja, a former professor at the Korea National University of Arts who has collaborated with internationally renowned artists including Nam June Paik, presents 'Looking at the Plum Blossom.' This delicate work features female dancers moving with petal-like grace and precision, their steps appearing to glide as if gently brushing the strings of a gayageum, a traditional Korean stringed instrument. Kim describes the piece as "a poem written through the body," emphasizing the lyrical and literary qualities embedded in the choreography.
Cho Heung-dong, a state-recognized bearer of Korea's traditional dance heritage, contributes the program's only newly created work with 'The Gallant.' This choreography emphasizes firm, grounding movements and strong, linear gestures that evoke the upright bearing and dignified posture of a classical scholar. In a special highlight of the program, Cho will personally appear onstage alongside the National Dance Company's dancers, offering audiences a rare opportunity to witness a master artist performing his own work. This multi-generational collaboration represents the essence of the 'Living Legacy' program's mission to preserve and continue Korea's dance traditions while making them accessible to contemporary audiences.
