“A great peace dance” would be the apt way to describe an East Asian style of dancing known as Taepyeongmu. This “peace” dance is said to have originated in South Korea and is supposed to have been performed traditionally mainly in royal courts. Furthermore, there is no clarity on the origins of this unique dance style. In addition, this dance has also been officially declared “an important cultural feature of South Korea”.
There are delicate and graceful movements in this dance. Yi Dong-an illustrates a balance between joie de vivre, glamor, and majesty as well as a blend of folksy plainness and aristocratic quality. The rendition given by Gang Seon-yeong exudes solemnity and majesty and features broad steps and graceful, exquisite arm motions.
According to legend, Taepyeongmu is the traditional Korean dance with the most graceful footwork. Moreover, it has excellent artistic merit.
a. History/origin of the Taepyeongmu:
Unfortunately, with regard to this dance style, there is no real clarity as to its origin. However, apparently, it was a renowned Korean drummer and dancer named Hahn Seongjun that created this dance form at the beginning of the 20th century.
b. Costume used in the Taepyeongmu:
Traditional costume once worn usually by Korean queens and kings known as “gwanbok” is mainly used by the performers in this dance style.
c. Music involved in the Taepyeongmu:
The music produced for this dance style is mainly generated using Korean drums. In addition, the musical rhythm used in this style of dancing is based on “jinswae-jangdan”, a shamanistic rhythmic cycle that belongs to the Gyenggido region in South Korea.
d. Training availability and technique involved in the Taepyeongmu:
In terms of technique, this dance involves foot movements that are quick and in complete rhythm with the music played. Furthermore, the performer needs to execute the delicate footwork with lots of “energy and aplomb”. As for training centres/schools, there are not many available around the world since this “peace” dance is mainly performed in South Korea.
TAEPYEONGMU DANCE VIDEOS: