A Special Performance for the Korean National Day and a Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-US Alliance 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. 

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Eisenhower Theater 

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Experience the contemporary evolution of Korean culture with a special performance of trend-setting and innovative Korean performing arts groups in commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of the Korea-US Alliance and Korea’s National Foundation Day, presented by the Embassy of Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. 

Inspired by the shared history and vibrant cultural ties that unite Koreans and Americans moving forward, this event explores the past, present, and future of performing arts in Korea, from an original work by the National Dance Company of Korea to a hanbok fashion show presented by The Korean Cultural Association and dynamic LED dance by Saengdonggam Crew.

The National Dance Company of Korea presents Scent of Ink, an original contemporary dance infused with the lofty spirit of traditional scholars. The intellectual nobility who once aspired to be free from the taint of the world are visualized in graceful style, represented on stage by an iconic form of Korean literary painting and traditional philosophy known as the Four Gracious Plants. The work consists of a prologue, epilogue, and a scene for each of the four seasonal florae: plum blossom (spring), orchid (summer), chrysanthemum (autumn), and bamboo (winter). Lush imagery unfolds on the stage, conveying virtuous and pure sentiments while inviting viewers to meditate on the harmonies they evoke. Like ink on paper, each dancer’s movements spread out to create a human painting set to classical Korean sanjo and elegant jeongga music. Audiences will find respite from the routines of daily life while being connected to the dignified spirit of ancient scholars.

Saeng Dong Gam Crew presents two dynamic dances, Hwagwanmu and Cheongomu dances representing a rebirth of Korean beauty through a harmonious blend of splendid traditional court attire and vibrant LED technology. Each dance preserves traditional aesthetics and etiquette in a digital-age package. In a traditional Hwagwanmu, beautifully dressed dancers flick elongated hansam sleeves in the air to welcome and bless their audience, while Cheongomu uses the beating of a drum to symbolically open the gates of heaven and welcome an era of peace into our dizzying world. Traditional yonggo drums and rich costumes are integrated with LED lighting systems to create an original performance of percussion, dance, and play.

The Korean Culture Association will showcase a hanbok fashion show that inherits the spirit of tradition and innovation with the traditional and modern clothes of Hanbok, the traditional Korean clothes. For the performance commemorating the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries, special Stars and Stripes and Taegeukgi hanboks will be presented.

*Disclaimer: This performance is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.

About the Performing Arts Groups

Since its foundation in 1962, the National Dance Company of Korea (NDCK), a resident company of the National Theater of Korea, has continued to engage in art activities under the motto of creation based on tradition. While inheriting traditional folk dances under the guidance of the greatest artists of the day, the NDCK works to create and develop modern renditions of Korean dances to attract and inspire contemporary audiences. NDCK is now at the forefront of Korean creative dance arts of different aesthetics based on tradition, including its main repertoire Korea Fantasy that combines traditional dances, the representative dance theatre Chum, Chunhyang, and its latest stylish work, Scent of Ink. Comprising more than 50 of Korea’s top dancers who offer dynamic and sophisticated performances, NDCK constantly strives to develop a range of repertoires and new works that will become the traditions of the future.

Korean Culture Association (KCA) have worked since 1984, to promote succession, development, and globalization of Korean culture for 40 years. The KCA has been introducing the world to Korean traditional cultural items like Korean traditional paper, food, clothing, painting, crafts, and music. On top of the, we have talked lead as cultural ambassadors for the cultural exchange of Korean culture and world’s clutters through the event in which do participate diplomats in Korea from more than 50 countries. The KCA have organized international cultural exchange events by virtue of our close ties with some 100 Embassies in Korea for over 20 years. We are taking the lead in the field of the cultural exchange by letting the people of the world know the depth of the Korean culture and tourism resources through diplomats, international reporters, and other visitors in Korea, as well as in cooperation with the other representative cultural organizations from all over the world. We will do our best to contribute to the development of the Korean tourism industry alongside state and local government through the world-class festivals to attract foreign tourist, as well as the cultural diplomacy.  

S.D.G Crew (Saeng Dong Gam Crew) is a team that shows eye-catching dark dance performances with wonderful productions throughout the performance. It was formed in 2002 and has been active together for more than 10 years. As a b-boy performance team boasting the best teamwork It is a b-boy crew that is opening a new horizon of a different b-boy performance through a unique and ingenious device that combines laser and media, not just a simple b-boy performance. The lively crew's LED Tron Dance is a high-quality performance that can be counted on the first finger among domestic blackout performances. LED Tron Dance is fun just to watch the performance, but you can also deliver a message or corporate image using LED props. In addition, the LED Tron Dance media performance, which collaborated with media images such as LED 2color Tron Dance, Obangsaek, and Michael Jackson Dance, will show a more splendid stage. Saengdonggam Crew produced “LED Tron Dance” for the first time in Korea and received public attention, starting with “Korea’s Got Talent Season II” and “SBS Stockings”. In 2014, she was invited to 'THE BEST LE Meilleur Artiste', which is hosted by France's TF1 channel, in which artists representing countries around the world participate, and was the first Asian country to perform on the final stage among 64 countries, performing shoulder to shoulder with artists representing countries around the world. value has been recognized. A performance combining media performance and Tron dance was produced and introduced through ‘KBS2 VJ Special Forces’, and captured the public’s heart through directing that was different from the existing performances.