[Vancouver, Canada] A special performance by the Incheon Metropolitan City Dance which celebrated the 60th anniversary of Korea-Canada diplomatic relations, ended with resounding success with audiences filling the 3,000-seat Vancouver Queen Elizabeth Theater on the afternoon of the 6th (Thursday) local time.
Hosted by the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver, led by Consul General Jongho Kyun, the performance theme "Landscape of Korean Traditional Arts" is said to have touched the hearts of Koreans and Canadians living in Western Canada. Currently, there are more than 100,000 Koreans living in Western Canada, including more than 10,000 international students from Korea.
"On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Canada, we are delighted to have the opportunity to share with you the splendor and excitement of Korea through a special traditional Korean performance by the Incheon Metropolitan City Dance," said Consul General Jongho Kyun in his opening remarks. Kyun continued "More than 27,000 Canadian soldiers fought in the Korean War, and we are grateful to Canada for giving South Korea the gift of freedom." In addition, "Over the past 60 years, Canada and Korea have developed a deep friendship, working together in a variety of fields. I hope this event will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the cultural and people-to-people ties between Canada and Korea and to further enhance cooperation between our two countries," he emphasized.
Canadian Prime Minister David Eby said in his congratulatory remarks, "This performance is a great opportunity to experience the beauty of Korean culture and art and to celebrate the strong bond between Korea and Canada." He continued "Of the Korean Canadians living in Canada, one-third live in the Vancouver area. Let us remember together this important milestone in our diplomatic relations and reflect on how important it is to build and strengthen the bridges of understanding and cooperation that bind us together." To that end, he explained a number of examples of cooperation, including the dispatch of the Korean government's emergency relief team to extinguish the Quebec forest fire and the signing of an agreement with Korea's Gyeonggi Province in May to respond to climate change.
The event was a performance that prepared various scenes of Korean traditional dance as if turning over a book of paintings. The in-depth artistry of Korean traditional dance, known as the height of mystery, was combined with traditional dance, creative dance, and Korean traditional music played live.
The performance consisted of a total of eight stages, and each stage showed unique dance and Korean traditional music. The first stage, "Tae Pyeong Seong Dae"(Age of Prosperous Tranquility), a scene of the royal family is embodied on the stage based on Kang Seon Young Ryu's Taepyeongmu, designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 92. On the second stage, "Gyeol"(Integrity)is a dance created based on the melody and rhythm of a Dance of Abak. Abak is a traditional musical instrument made of a gourd. The white costume and sound of Abak represent the virtue and dignity of a nobleman. The third stage featured a "Buchae chum"(fan dance)featuring lively and dynamic movements.
The fourth stage, "Gyeok"(Vigor) featured the dazzling and exhilarating swordsmanship with a continental flair showing the uniqueness of Korea's traditional sword dance. The fifth stage, "Pungnyu Ga In"( Jang-gu’ Jubilee) is a dance performed with Jang-gu, which is one of the most well-known Korean traditional musical instruments. This performance stands out as the attraction of active ladies. The sixth stage, "Sa Dharani'(Four Dharani)," created a solemn and reverent atmosphere. Based on the ritual of purifying the mind by defeating evil spirits, the dance simultaneously expressed the strong energy and religious solemnity of men. In the seventh stage, women's elegance and beauty were expressed through a dance that embodies flowers with "Cheon Sang Hwa" (Heavenly Flowers), Finally, in the eighth stage, the "Fight for the Upper Seat Water Castle - Rabbit Escape" a modern reinterpretation of the classical pansori "Sugungga," was performed. This new version of Water Castle (Sugung-ga), "Fight for the Upper Seat" brought dancers and fable together.
In September of last year, South Korea and Canada declared a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," building on the 60-year history of cooperation between the two countries. As part of this, South Korea and Canada have designated 2024-2025 as the Year of Cultural Exchange between the two countries. In this regard, various cultural events are being held this year, including K-dance performances and Korean cultural exhibitions. Organizers expect 2023 to be a meaningful year for Canadians to deepen their understanding and enjoy Korean culture.
