ABSTRACT
This chapter is based on an article that originally appeared in Korean Culture. Koreans categorize a rather wide range of dances under the heading of chontong muyong, a phrase meaning "traditional dance". The Korean Traditional Performing Arts Center (KTPAC) traces its roots to the end of the fourth century via a royal music institute in the palace. At the opposite end of the continuum from traditional dance is what the Koreans categorize as hyondae muyong, or "contemporary dance". Contemporary dance in Korea owes much to Yook Wan-soon, former Professor of Dance at Ewha Women's University. Graham technique has become the standard for contemporary dance in Korea. Ballet sometimes rests at the non-Korean end of the continuum with contemporary dance, and sometimes slips closer to the middle, where creative dance lies. Clearly rooted in an imported dance style, ballet in Korea continues to demonstrate its classical European origins, as well as Korean influences.
