Dance has been a medium for understanding the philosophy of and emotions behind a culture. This is especially true for a country with a vast and complex history like Korea. Korean dance is a tradition that includes every form of contemporary dance in the country, from shamanistic to folk, court to modern traditional dance, and even breakdancing. Over the past several centuries, each of these unique dance forms has attempted to convey the Korean psyche. This book aims to examine Korean dance from its primitive roots to the complex court rituals and on to the pop culture styles of today. What sets Korean dance apart from that of other cultures will also be explored. Finally, readers will be able to delve into its broad range of forms and long history and gain a better understanding of its role in society.

Introduction 6 

Chapter 1

Spirit of the People 10

Respect for Nature / Self-expression / Highly Emotional / Stillness / 

Verticality / Props

Chapter 2

Folk Dance 20

Commoner Dances / Professional Dances / Ritual Dance

Chapter 3

Court Dance 40

Dangak Jeongjae / Hyangak Jeongjae 

Chapter 4

The History of Korean Dance 56

Prehistoric Dances / Gojoseon / The Three Kingdoms / Goryeo Dynasty / Joseon Dynasty / New Traditional Dance

Chapter 5

Modern Dance 70

Ballet / B-boying / Meet the Crews / Competing on the Global Scene

Chapter 6

Dancers and Choreographers 82

The Dances of Royalty / Touches of Modernity / Preserving Tradition 

Appendix 

National Gugak Center 94

Modern Traditional Performance Halls 97

Education Centers 100