Korea-Arab Society(KAS) annually visits Arab countries to showcase Korean cultural performances but due to the COVID-19, it was filmed in Korea in 2020. Please enjoy the Korean traditional music and dance by the Jindo National Gugak Center and the b-boy musical and media art performance of ‘Marionette’ by the Expression Crew. 

Arabic subtitles are provided for viewers of the Arab world.

1. Korean traditional music and dance 

(link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqxtIhQ35x8)

Gugak, which means Korean classical music, has been continuously conveyed over generations and traces of the history and culture of Korea. Jindo National Gugak Center has carried over a thousand years of tradition and history since 2004 in Jindo Island in Jeollanamdo province, contributing to preserving and promote traditional music and dance of Korea. Jindo Island is blessed with its natural beauty and the rich traditional culture, and music is the most precious treasure among all. It is the home of well-known Jindo Arirang (folk song), Gang Gang Sul Lae (circle dance for ladies) and Jindo Buk Chum (Jindo drum dance), not to mention all the great masters of singers and musicians.

1) Samdo Seol Jang Gu (ensemble of drums)

Samdo Seol Jang Gu is arranged for the Jang Gu (hourglass-shaped drum) part in the traditional percussion quartet. The beats are derived and developed mainly from the farmers’ band music of the ancient agricultural communities. The tempo proceeds from slow to fast rhythms while highlighting and maximizing each musician’s advanced techniques in harmony.

2) Yeon Heung Mu (small hand fan dance)

Yeon Heung Mu is based on traditional dance and emphasizes improvisation to show ladies enjoying a sunny spring day. The dancers express joyful and happy emotion as if they become and playing like a flock of swallows.

3) Gyu Jang Nong Wol(hourglass-shaped drum dance)

Gyu Jang Nong Wol means peeping over the walls to see women playing merrily. The dance looks like a piece of artwork showing stylish movements with elegant folk song melodies and extravagant sound of Jang Gu(hourglass-shaped drum). It seems like bees and butterflies wondering beautifully seeking flowers on a spring day when all kinds of flowers are in full bloom.

4) Pan Gut & Buk Chum(traditional folk performance)

Pan Gut is a kind of multi-artistic entertainment which combines percussion music and dance. This folk performance was hardly missed in any village festival in Korean traditional society wishing for peace and a good harvest. It is feast for both ears and eyes with its endless variety of complicated movements and dances including Jindo Buk(drum) and So Go Chum (hand drum dance).

2. B-boy musical 'Marionette' 

(link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wZwmucp8Xc)

"Marionette" is a storytelling b-boy musical and media art spectacular inspired by traditional European marionette shows, brought to life by the creative dance choreography of ‘Expression Crew’. European marionette puppet shows feature string-controlled wooden puppets, controlled from above by their puppet master - the puppeteer. This b-boy dance performance has never before been seen, and was not even considered possible.

Two very different genres, b-boy dance and puppetry, featuring very different forms and emotions, are brought together through Expression Crew’s inspiring dance movements. This performance showcases beautiful and restrained choreography, contrasting a sequence of powerful and dramatic dance moves with dreamlike music to express mixed feelings of sorrow, anger and happiness. 

Expression Crew is well-known b-boy crew who have won many international competitions, and were notably the first ever Asian team to win the “Battle of the Year” in Germany. They have also appeared in various TV shows and commercials in Korea.