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| Korean Dance Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Korean Dance Association |
| Formation | 20th century |
| Type | Non-profit cultural organization |
| Headquarters | Seoul |
| Membership | Dancers, choreographers, scholars |
| Leader title | President |
Korean Dance Association
The Korean Dance Association is a national arts organization based in Seoul dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and development of Korean dance traditions and contemporary choreography. The association collaborates with institutions such as the National Gugak Center, Korea National University of Arts, National Theater of Korea, and international partners including the UNESCO network to present performances, research, and training. It engages communities through festivals, competitions, and educational outreach connecting performers, researchers, and cultural policy makers from provinces like Gyeonggi Province and cities including Busan and Daegu.
Founded during the modernizing period of the 20th century, the association emerged amid cultural debates involving figures from Joseon Dynasty revivalists to 20th-century practitioners influenced by Japanese occupation of Korea and postwar reconstruction. Early collaborations involved artists associated with the National Folk Museum of Korea and intellectuals connected to the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration. During the 1960s and 1970s, links with institutions such as Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and festivals like the Seoul International Dance Festival helped codify repertoires. Later decades saw exchanges with Royal Ballet-trained Koreans, outreach tied to the Korean Wave, and inclusion in policy dialogues with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The association's stated mission aligns with preservation of intangible heritage recognized by organizations such as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists and advocacy for artists represented by unions similar to Korean Performers Union. Objectives include documentation akin to work by the Academy of Korean Studies, promotion of contemporary choreography in contexts like the Off-Broadway model, and cultural diplomacy in partnership with entities such as the Korean Cultural Service and foreign embassies. It supports award programs comparable to the Baeksang Arts Awards and curatorial initiatives for venues like the National Museum of Korea.
Governance typically consists of an elected board with roles paralleling those found in Korea Arts Management Service-affiliated bodies: President, Vice President, Secretary General, and committees for education, research, and performance. Membership includes representatives from conservatories such as Seoul National University College of Music and the Korea National University of Arts Department of Dance. Regional chapters coordinate with provincial cultural offices in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Gwangju. Advisory councils often include scholars from institutions like Yonsei University and curators from the National Theater Company of Korea.
Programs encompass archival initiatives modeled after the National Archives of Korea, publication of journals similar to those by the Korea Research Foundation, and artist residency collaborations with centers like the Asia Culture Center. The association organizes competitions reminiscent of the Korea Grand Prize format, mentorship schemes connected to academies such as Dong-A University, and international exchange tours to countries represented by embassies including United States Embassy Seoul and British Council South Korea.
Noteworthy leaders and members have included choreographers and scholars who trained at institutions like the Royal Conservatory of The Hague or worked with companies such as Korean National Ballet and LDP Company. Honorary advisors have included ethnographers affiliated with the Korean Studies Institute and artists who collaborated with directors from the Seoul Performing Arts Company and dancers who performed at events such as Bunka Kaikan festivals.
The association curates annual events analogous to the Hi Seoul Festival and participates in international showcases at venues like the Lincoln Center and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It programs traditional court and folk repertoires alongside contemporary commissions presented at the Arko Arts Theater and tours to cultural capitals including Beijing and Tokyo.
Educational efforts include certificate courses inspired by conservatory pedagogy at institutions such as the Korea National University of Arts, workshops led by masters recognized by the Cultural Properties Administration, and youth development programs in collaboration with municipal cultural centers like Seodaemun Museum of Natural History-affiliated arts outreach. The association also supports doctoral research connected to universities like Sungkyunkwan University and publishes syllabi used across conservatories.
The association has influenced national heritage policy debates involving the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea and shaped representations of Korean identity in media alongside broadcasters like KBS and MBC. Its collaborations with global partners, including UNESCO and the Asia-Europe Foundation, contributed to the internationalization of Korean dance forms and informed scholarship at conferences held by organizations such as the International Council on Archives and the International Theatre Institute.
Category:Korean performing arts organizations Category:Dance organizations