Dance

“New Concept Performing Arts Festival”: Hanguk Performing Arts Center will be staging 12 performances through Oct. 2 at Arko Arts Theater and Daehangno Arts Theater in Hyehwa-dong, central Seoul. Under the slogan “Make the Difference,” the festival aims to showcase experimental and original dances such as “Synchronomous” by Intermedia Performance Lab and “EARTH” by Live EARTH MUSEUM. For more information, call (02) 3668-0008 or visit www.hanpac.or.kr. 

“Brilliant Light of Joseon Dynasty”: Samsung Dance Company stages its original dance performance “Brilliant Light of Joseon Dynasty” from Sept. 1 to 4 at the National Gugak Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. The choreography is based on modernized Korean traditional dance. The performance has a story ― a mixture of truth and imagination about how the Joseon Dynasty coped with the Japanese invaders a century ago. Viewers will be able to enjoy Korean traditional dance and dynamic martial art which follow a lyrical story. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.gugak.go.kr.

“Mid-time Fantasy Dance Performance”: The National Theater of Korea holds a Korean traditional dance performance every Tuesday at 11 a.m. There are eight different repertoires including a fan dance and a dance with “jango,” a type of Korean drum. The performance is being staged as an open run at the National Theater of Korea in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul. Admission is 10,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

“Miso”: Translated as “beautiful smile,” the musical “Miso” offers a compact presentation of everything Korean culture first-timers could wish for. It blends ten different kinds of traditional dances, five traditional games and a wedding ritual into the main storyline based on a well-known folktale, “The Tale of Chunhyang.” There are very few spoken lines throughout the whole performance, making it ideal for audiences of diverse nationalities. “Miso” is showing as an open run at Chongdong Theater in Jeong-dong, central Seoul. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-1500 or visit www.koreamiso.com.