This time, the festival audience in Kraków had a chance to admire the performance not only of Korean musicians, but also dancers. The ensemble of Korean dancers led by Jang Tae Yun, the artistic director of the Chum-Sarang Arts Academy, accompanied by the Jeolla Samhyeunyukak music group, presented three Korean court dances: taepyongmu, buchaechum – a famous dance with a fan, and Jindo bukchum – a dance with the buk drum to mark the opening of the festival. The performance took place on Sunday, 30th July 2017 at the Renaissance Villa Decius and again on the night of the same day during the show titled Dances of 1001 Nights held in Kraków’s Main Square.
The programme of the Cracovia Danza Court Dance Festival also featured workshops taught by dance masters from all over the world. One of the classes was conducted by Jang Tae Yun from Korea, who presented elements of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897) court dance called taepyeongmu. The five-day workshops titled Kraków Dances was held in the building of the celebrated Bartlomiej Nowodworski High School No.1 situated near Na Groblach Square. Apart from Korean dance, workshop participants also learned the basics of English, Baroque, French and Spanish dances, as well as commedia dell’arte and pantomime.
The Cracovia Danza Court Dance Festival the only event of this kind in Poland. Every summer in Kraków it brings together masters of historical dance and numerous ensembles specialising in early dances from all over the world. The initiator and the director of the festival is Romana Angel. Held under the In the Far East title, the 2017 edition of the event concentrated on Asia. The festival explored the main theme of the fan, a prop which fulfilled a role of profound importance in dances and choreographies of different styles and periods.
The partner of the project was the Adam Mickiewicz Institute under the brand Culture.pl.
Source: promotional materials, written by EP, 14 Jul 2017, translated by AW, 18 Jul 2017