The Korean Cultural Center New York presented the ChangMu Dance Company this past week and treated the public to an artistic gem. ChangMu Dance Company, currently with fourteen dancers, was founded in 1976 by Kim MaeJa, a pioneer of Korean “creative dance.” This distinctive form innovates contemporary expressions around the spirit and aesthetics of Korean traditions and ideas. MaeJa’s choreographies draw from a foundation in the many traditional Korean dance forms—including shaman, Buddhist, folk, and court dance—infusing the work with movement qualities and themes rarely seen on New York stages. The performances afforded a sublime immersion into a unique aesthetic and cultural experience.
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