Dr. Sung Ok Yang

Dr. Sung Ok Yang is a professional dancer and a bearer of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 92 (Taepyeongmu) of South Korea. She earned her BA in the Department of Korean Dance at Kyunghee University, Seoul, South Korea, her MA in the department of Dance education at Chung Ang Univerity, Seoul, South Korea, and her Ph.D. in the Korean Studies on the Korean Arts, Graduate School at Sangmyung University, Seoul, South Korea. She is a professor of the Department of Korean Traditional Performing Arts, Korea National University of Arts, Seoul, Korea, an executive director of Kim Back Bong Preservation Dance Group, as well as a director of Hannuri Dance Company. She has performed around the world and choreographed works, “A Millennium Legend”, “HwangJin”, and “ Everlasting love ChunHyang”, motivated by the fundamental materials on Korean Traditional Dance.

Dr. Sung Ok Yang, will give a performance of three dances, preceded by a brief lecture. The first will be “Taepyeongmu” or the Dance of Peace, the second, “Sanjo Dance”, and the third, “Binaree,” or the Wish Dance.

Taepyeongmu (Dance of Peace, 태평무) is one of the several court dances that embody the continuing hope for the nation to exist in peace. Its original performers included the King and Queen, who danced in the Royal Palace for a good harvest and country’s well being as well as to celebrate the achievements of the King. The dancers are adorned in magnificent regal costumes and execute enthusiastic movements, alternating steps while in serene repose. This traditional dance is elegant, colorful, and fluid in movement. This graceful dance has the features and characteristics of Korean traditional folk dance including mastery of technique, improvisation, and showmanship.