TITLE OF PIECE:Sound Of Korea -"Samgo-Mu"
GENRE: Korean Drum Dance
CHOREOGRAPHY: Kyoungil Ong
OngDance Company performs the Korean Drum Dance, which uses several sets of dragon-shaped small drums hanging on three sides of the dancer, on a carved wooden frame. One drum is hung at the center, and two on the sides, so the drum is open to the audience to reveal the movements of the dancer pounding the drum in rhythmically complex and syncopated phrases. Elegantly dressed, the dancer applies all parts of her body to make the sound of the drum, and incorporates graceful yet powerful acrobatic movements. This is symbolic of the merging of spirit on earth.
The costume worn for this piece is the traditional hanbok consisting of fabric that creates straight lines and smooth curves. Women wear short jackets and long skirts, men wear trousers, a vest and jacket. Traditional these would be in all white, or very colorful for special occasions, and recently different styles of the hanbok have been altered to better suit practical everyday comfort.
The choreography of this piece by Kyoungil Ong has been supported by a Choreography Commission Award from the San Francisco Foundation and was awarded the prestigious Isadora Duncan Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Performance - Company".