Memorial Performance "Jaehwe" for the 10th Anniversary of Byeoksa Jeong Jaeman's Passing to be Held at Sejong Center on the 2nd of Next Month

The performance "Reunion," commemorating the 10th anniversary of the passing of the holder of Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 27 Seungmu, the late Jeong Jaeman, will take place on May 2nd at 7:30 PM on the main stage of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

Born a natural dancer, Jeong Jaeman began his journey in the Byeoksa (碧史) dance tradition in 1971 when he became a disciple of Han Youngsook, the grand dame of Korean traditional dance. Han Youngsook, the second-generation Byeoksa master, was designated as the holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 27 Seungmu in 1969 and continued the traditional dance lineage of Han Seongjun by accepting Jeong Jaeman as her disciple, despite him being male. Jeong Jaeman later established Byeoksa-style dances such as Seungmu, Salpuri dance, Taepyeongmu, Sanjo, Gwangdaemu, Hunryeongmu, and Heoteunsalpuri, nurturing numerous disciples and dedicating himself to the preservation and development of dance.

Jeong Jaeman served as the chief choreographer for the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, choreographed the 2002 World Cup Eve event, and was the dance director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Busan Asian Games and the 2003 Daegu Universiade. He received awards such as the Grand Prize at the Dijon International Folklore Festival in France, the Choreography Award at the Polish Folklore Festival, and the Grand Prize at the Korea Dance Festival. He was also honored with the Korean government's Cultural Arts Award, the Minister of Sports Award, the Presidential Citation, and the Order of Cultural Merit, Ok-gwan.

The "Byeoksa (碧史) dance" tradition has been passed down through four generations: Han Seongjun, Han Youngsook, Jeong Jaeman, and Jeong Yongjin, maintaining its authenticity.

This performance will be a tribute stage featuring over 150 participants, including Seungmu licensees and transmitters who continue Jeong Jaeman’s dance legacy, the Byeoksa Jeong Jaeman Dance Preservation Society, Byeoksa dance branches, Byeoksa dance transmission classes, graduates from Sejong University and Sookmyung Women’s University, the Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company, the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation Arts Troupe, Korea National University of Arts, Walkerhill Dance Company, Samsung Dance Company, National Dance Company of Korea, as well as senior and junior artists from the Korean traditional music community who shared a dance life with the master. Representative Byeoksa-style dances such as "Seungmu," "Salpuri dance," "Large Taepyeongmu," "Heoteunsalpuri," "Gwangdaemu," "Hunryeongmu," and "Sanjo dance (Wolhajeongin)" will be performed alongside various other works including "Hallyangmu," "Seoljanggo," and "Daebuk," all accompanied by live music.

Tickets for the Reunion performance can be reserved at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and Ticketlink.