Asia
Korea
Korean dance traditions include royal court repertoires, ritual practices, masked village drama and theatrical concert works. Their histories are distinct, and contemporary artists continue to reinterpret inherited movement.
History
Court dance and ritual traditions developed alongside village performance. Colonial disruption, postwar preservation programmes and national institutions influenced what survives on contemporary stages; fan dance is a modern concert form rather than an ancient unchanged ceremony.
Key forms
- Court dance
- Shamanic dance
- Talchum
- Seungmu
- Fan dance
Elements
- Breath and suspension
- Masks and satire
- Flowing sleeves and rhythmic accents
Masters & companies
- National Gugak Center
- Korea National University of Arts
- Choi Seung-hee
Watch Live
No official live dance stream verified for this tradition yet.
Watch Recorded
No specific official watch recorded resource verified yet.
Learn
Official dance education, company or cultural resources. Check the publisher for current viewing availability; no active live broadcast confirmed. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
KartsGeneral institution or cultural programme; not a dedicated online dance archive. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
Korean Cultural Center New YorkGeneral institution or cultural programme; not a dedicated online dance archive. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
National Folk MuseumGeneral institution or cultural programme; not a dedicated online dance archive. Check the publisher for current viewing availability; no active live broadcast confirmed. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
Attend
Official dance education, company or cultural resources. Check the publisher for current viewing availability; no active live broadcast confirmed. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
Korean Cultural Center New YorkGeneral institution or cultural programme; not a dedicated online dance archive. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
National Folk MuseumGeneral institution or cultural programme; not a dedicated online dance archive. Check the publisher for current viewing availability; no active live broadcast confirmed. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21
Some publishers offer paid access. Public recordings do not grant permission to reuse choreography or ceremonial material.
See also: Global MusicLiving musical traditions, performances, archives and radio.