In November, Southern California is set to be brilliantly colored by performances from South Korea’s representative national art troupes. The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA, Director Hae-don Lee) has designated the first week of this month as ‘Korean National Performing Arts Week.’
Beginning with a successful performance by the National Chorus of Korea at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on November 1st, followed by the National Dance Company of Korea at the Zipper Hall on the 4th, and culminating with the National Gugak Center at the Luckman Theatre of California State University, Los Angeles (CSU LA) at 6 PM on the 7th, top-tier Korean performing arts events are scheduled back-to-back.
The National Gugak Center’s invitation performance, ‘Korean Soundscape: The Pulse of Gugak,’ marks the troupe’s official return to Los Angeles for the first time in nine years since their PyeongChang Winter Olympics D-100 commemorative performance in November 2017. The performance features members of the Center’s Dance Troupe and Folk Music Group, showcasing a wide spectrum ranging from the refined dignity of court and traditional dance to the dynamic energy of folk arts all in one place.
The performance opens with the National Gugak Center Dance Troupe. Pieces such as ‘Hunryeongmu,’ which highlights the spirit and disciplined movements of commanding soldiers, blend with ‘Sanjo Chum’ and ‘Hallyangmu’ to display the delicate beauty and leisure of Korean dance, presenting an elegant traditional aesthetic.
Hunryeongmu is a stage reconstructed with a modern sensibility in 2024 by former artistic director Kim Choong-han, based on the work of traditional dance master Han Seong-jun.
In the following folk music segment, ‘Sinawi Ensemble,’ where instruments freely exchange sounds; ‘Pansori,’ created by a singer and a drummer’s northern drum rhythm; and ‘Arirang Medley,’ containing the colors of various eras and regions, deliver the deep resonance of folk music.
The grand finale of the performance is decorated by ‘Pangut and Sogo/Buk Chum,’ a comprehensive art form combining percussion performance, dance, and Yeonhui (folk performing arts). It is expected to prove the ‘ongoing’ charm of Korean traditional arts to the fullest by elevating the audience’s enthusiasm to its peak with powerful rhythms and spirited dance moves.
To attend this performance, advance reservations must be made through the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles website (kccla.org).
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