Renowned Korean Dancer Says Watching Shen Yun Is Crucial for Dance Artists (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) DAEGU, South Korea--Ms. Kim Juk-Youp, a renowned Korean dancer with a PhD degree in dance and a choreographer of Korean dance with the Daegu City Korean Music Orchestra, watched the second show of Shen Yun Performing Arts in Daegu City on February 26 and praised Shen Yun as unique.

Each time she watches a Shen Yun performance, said Ms. Kim, she is left with novel experiences, new inspiration, and a feeling that the show is portraying genuine Chinese culture.

She said that Shen Yun has gained in popularity in the Korean arts community. In modern times, when aesthetics in arts have been trapped in confusion and decay, she commented, Shen Yun performances point out the direction of artistic development for artists.

"Artists from the fields of dance and other arts have all heard of Shen Yun and come to watch the performance. They know Shen Yun is terrific," she said.

"What we are working on is also Korean traditional art. We also hope to preserve traditional art. Therefore, we are deeply attracted by Shen Yun's efforts to pass down traditional culture and art. In the field of Korean dance, watching Shen Yun has become a compulsory class."

Ms. Kim Juk-Youp, renowned Korean dancer, and choreographer of Korean dance for the Daegu City Korean Music Orchestra

Ms. Kim, who has watched the Shen Yun performance three times, is devoted to preserving Korean traditional culture. She felt it is a pity that there has been a recent trend to fuse Korean dance and ballet. She sighed that such a fusion is so common in other countries that people are numbed by such a combination. Compared to the blend, she said, classical Chinese dance by Shen Yun appeared more distinguished by its unalterable value.

"With the passing of time, every nationality's unique characteristics can be found in traditional values and dignity. In this aspect, Shen Yun's style stands out," she said admiringly.

Ms. Kim is also vice president of the Rose of Sharon Art Association, Daegu Chapter, and chair of the Daegu Research Institute of Korean Dance.

She said that traditional culture should be preserved without any change, and that Korean arts and cultural communities emphasize the importance of preservation of tradition. "Traditions should be passed down; more people should understand traditions."

If a country is able to preserve its traditions, its values will then be elevated. As a dancer of Korean traditional dance, Ms. Kim has a particular interest in and feels enchanted by Chinese folk dance.

With regard to the costumes, Ms. Kim said that Korean costumes have something in common with Chinese costumes because Korean history is closely connected with Chinese history. But costumes of Chinese tribal people are distinguished by their tribal characteristics. As a result, dancers in tribal costumes, she said, appeared particularly distinctive and distinguishable. In particular, "colors of the costumes and accessories are more beautiful, I prefer that. Chinese culture is terrific itself, and therefore more valuable."

Poet: "Shen Yun will bring oriental culture to the world"

On February 25, Shen Yun staged its first performance in Daegu. Ms. Jeong Suk, a poet and dean of the Daegu Literary Academy was touched by the depth and breadth of Chinese culture after watching the show, and obtained much wisdom from the dances depicting ancient stories.

The dance that touched her the most deeply was Astounding Conviction, which, according to the program, depicts a lone man in Tiananmen Square holding a banner that says "Falun Dafa is Good," peacefully expressing his opposition to the goverment policy of persecution that targets his faith.

As a poet, Jeong Suk understood the Buddhist connotation in the lyrics of the song, which allowed her to ponder the uncertainty of human life and reincarnation. "The respect to gods helps us to be truthful. Although we encounter hardship, we will become better beings in other worlds. This thought makes the world a better place, doesn't it?"

Ms. Jeong Suk teaches poetry writing

When she learned that the Shen Yun performers are all ethnic Chinese that grew up overseas, she was both surprised and happy. Traditional Chinese culture was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution by the Chinese Communist Party and can no longer be seen in China. She said that it is significant to have the beautiful culture revived and spread overseas, adding, "How nice it would be if overseas Koreans could do likewise. I admire what [Shen Yun] has done!"

In recent years many Koreans have been proud that Korea TV series have become very popular overseas. This is mainly because the TV programs place emphasis on traditional virtues.

Jeong Suk concluded, "Shen Yun will bring Asian culture to the world. This is admirable."

Sources:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/30557/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/30519/