From earth, wind and fire, 'Mimesis' reconnects Korean dance with nature

Wielding long swords, the dancers leap and roll across the stage. They strike the floor, spin and slice through the air as the sharp metallic clang of the kkwaenggwari, a small Korean gong, grows faster and louder. The sound of metal fills the air, each note cutting more sharply as steel flashes under the lights. In the final moment, the dancers soar upward and drive their blades straight into the ground, like lightning striking the earth.

The scene is from "Janggeommu," or "Long Sword Dance" -- one of eight movements in Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre’s new work, "Mimesis," set to premiere Nov. 6-9 at the Sejong Center’s M Theater in Seoul.

The city company reinterprets eight forms of traditional Korean dance through a contemporary lens, exploring how the body and its movements mirror the elements of nature.

The grounded footwork of "Sogochum," or "Small Drum Dance," represents the earth; "Hallyangmu," or "Prodigal Man’s Dance," with its billowing robes and fans, evokes the wind; and "Mudangchum," or "Shaman’s Dance," burns with the improvisational energy of fire.

The title "Mimesis" refers to Aristotle’s concept of mimesis, the idea that artistic creation is a form of imitation.

For the company, this imitation is not just replication but transformation.

“It’s about refining and reshaping tradition to reveal its essence,” artistic director Yun Hea-joung said during a group interview with the press.

The eight dances of "Mimesis" reflect the diversity of Korea’s traditional and folk heritage, she added.

“We chose eight that represent different social classes and professions -- from the gyobang courtesans and the noble hallyang to military generals, shamans and monks. Each has its own history and we tried to avoid overlap so that every piece carries its unique rhythm and identity.”

Costume designer Kim Ji-won approached "Mimesis" with the same philosophy: preserving the essential beauty of hanbok while reimagining it for a modern stage. The silhouettes of skirts, jackets and robes remain, but the proportions are changed, layered and deconstructed.

“Before designing, I studied the original shapes and focused on creating minimal, clean lines,” Kim said. “Color was key. People usually associate Korean tradition with the five cardinal colors, 'obangsaek,' but there’s also 'gansaek' -- the natural hues of our landscape.”

The palette, she explained, draws directly from mountains, seas, soil, stones and flowers, echoing the colors of the natural world.

Dancer Ki Moo-gan, a breakout star from Mnet’s dance competition show "Stage Fighter," joins the company for the full run. Though trained in traditional dance, Ki has spent recent years exploring more experimental movements.

“I studied Korean dance for many years, but over time I began pursuing different directions and moved away from tradition,” Ki said. “So it’s refreshing to return. It took some time to adjust, but I wanted to recapture that feeling, find the rhythm again and do it justice.”