Consisting of performers from the lowest social class in Joseon dynasty, the Namsadang troupe used to sing and dance in the street from village to village under the permission of Yangban – the high-class people in Joseon dynasty. Gom-bang-yi-teot-da has been their jocular jargon meaning “Allowed to perform.”
Bounded by status yet not succumbing to their fate, the Namsadang lightheartedly expressed their sorrow and joy.
JOSEPH KIM
Born in Busan. Since the age of 14 years he started to dance “B-boy”, “Hip-hop”. In 2010 he started studying the composition in Korea National University of Arts Department of Choregrography. After one year he changed his major to contemporary dance.
Joseph Kim danced in Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, Derniere minute company of Pierre Rigal, performed in TV Drama, Documentary, Musicals, etc.
Worked as a general director of Arts Center “Dancing Trees”.
According Joseph Kim, martial arts and medicine have inseparable relationship with dance. “I have been studying movement trying to reveal my consciousness. Movement is not just a movement, it comes from the mind and soul, therefore free consciousness is important.”
