New York Debut for Korean Treasure
When we know more about each other's cultures, history and traditions, we are better able to understand each other, realizing that we have very little difference and that we are very much the same." Kang Sun Young
Move over, you performing octo-genarians, Kang Sun Young, at 81 made her New York debut at the New York State Theater on August 8, after 70 years of performing, teaching and being Korea's "Intangible Cultural Asset, No. 92." What to expect from a company of 37 female dancers of various ages, 2 men, 14 ear-splitting drummers performing traditional dance and music, with inevitable Western entertainment touches (video projections) here and there to fill a huge stage. Would the evening be a Radio-City-type review with girls, girls, girls? It was, instead a balanced program of traditional and some expanded finale pieces, carefully choreographed, and executed with taste and impeccable performance. New York has history of Asian presentation at the prestigious Asia Society, Japan Society and many other small cultural groups. Some of the younger Asian choreographers meld Western modern dance into their works: as Martha Graham, influenced by Asian culture, incorporated colorful costumes, elaborate hair-dos and jewelry, into her presentations. But this company has no modern dance influences. It is a living legacy with a few more recent choreographed pieces in direct passage through the culture.
As in most Asian countries, traditional dances are maintained in a university where they are handed down with meticulous accuracy to generations of young performers. Young is professor at dance at the Korean National University of the Arts in Seoul. She began her studies at the age of 12 with a master, Han Seong Jun, who became a pioneer in preserving traditional Korean music and dance.
Korean dance, similar to other Asian dance forms, is full of subtle phrasing, articulated with a pulse from a drum, quick moving and syncopated. The upper body, hands and facial expressions combine to show emotions, manipulate the scarves, long sleeves and small percussion instruments. Ms. Kang herself is still nimble, has great star presence, and charm to the point of being flirtatious. She knows her audience. She was gorgeously costumed in multilayered dresses, in a rainbow of colors, including the traditional black hat that sits on top of the head or with an elaborate coiffeur.
The program did not last all evening, as it does in the Orient, but presented a crisp view of drum, fan, sword and bird dances including a little comic dramatic piece that could take place in any country at any time.
More and more college dance departments are beginning to add Asian dance studies. As Asians have mastered Western dance, it is hope that dancers from the West can soon add this dance form to their resumes.