Yeongdeok and Gimhae Connected Through Dance
Growing the Value of Art Together
On June 21, the Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation held an exchange program between members of the 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' and the 'Dream Dance Company Gimhae', successfully concluding their first meeting with enthusiastic participation from attendees.
Members of the 'Dream Dance Company Gimhae' who visited Yeongdeok for regional exchange are taking a commemorative photo on the main stage of Yeju Culture and Arts Center with the 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' team. Provided by Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation
This program marked the first regional hub exchange project since the establishment of the 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' three years ago. It was designed to give Yeongdeok's youth the opportunity to meet peers from other regions, experience different dance genres firsthand, and expand their artistic horizons.
Similarly, the 'Dream Dance Company Gimhae', also in its third year, consists of 29 members ranging from second-grade elementary to first-grade middle school students.
For many members, it was their first visit to Yeongdeok. They watched a 'bar turn show' utilizing stage equipment at the main theater of the Yeju Culture and Arts Center, and spent time getting to know the 25 members of the 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' through self-introductions. Afterwards, they participated in stage safety training, learned stage terminology, experienced a backstage tour, and conducted an interview with the theater director to gain insight into the world behind the stage.
The two teams, 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' and 'Dream Dance Company Gimhae', then moved to the practice room to take classes together in each hub's representative genre: contemporary dance (Yeongdeok) and Korean dance (Gimhae).
To encourage interaction, members from Yeongdeok and Gimhae were mixed into new teams. During the contemporary dance session, they played a clapping movement game using the children's song 'Bandal'. In the Korean dance session, they learned the basic and applied movements of Ganggangsullae. Through these activities, members of both companies experienced different Eastern and Western dance genres, deepened their understanding of one another, and learned to embrace each other's dance worlds.
After completing all the classes, the participants enjoyed a random play dance battle, watched each hub's repertoire performances, and shared a pleasant dinner. Members from Yeongdeok and Gimhae became close friends as they exchanged stories about their respective hometowns.
One member of the 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' said, "Although the Gimhae members are a bit younger, learning and dancing together made us new dance friends. It was my first time learning Korean dance, but it was fun, and I am determined for our team to practice even harder."
A foundation representative commented, "It was a meaningful experience for the 'Dream Dance Company', now in its third year, to hold its first interregional exchange class with Gimhae. We hope the children will broaden their perspectives as they learn various artistic genres. We plan to continue expanding exchanges with other regions in the future." The 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' plans to visit the 'Dream Dance Company Gimhae' next year to continue the exchange.
Updates on the 'Dream Dance Company Yeongdeok' can be found on Instagram, and inquiries about the program can be directed to the Arts Promotion Team at the Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation.
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