National Gugak Center Dance Troupe Recasts Chunhyang Tale as Passionate Triangle in “Chunhyang Danjeon”
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
The National Gugak Center Dance Troupe will stage Chunhyang Danjeon from the 14th–16th at the Yeaakdang, reinterpreting the classic Chunhyangjeon to spotlight Hyangdan (a low‑status female character) and her obsessive passion for Mongryong. Adding the character name “dan” (丹, meaning crimson) to the title emphasizes Hyangdan’s presence and intensifies the romantic conflict. In this wordless dance drama, choreography and traditional dance forms — including hansam dance (long‑sleeved dance), doyeol dance (drum line dance), geommu (sword dance), and gisaeng dance — convey escalating jealousy and obsession as Hyangdan mistakes Mongryong for Chunhyang and shares a kiss, changing the emotional stakes. Artistic director Kim Choong‑han framed the piece to reflect contemporary psychological extremes; original themes of class and pure love remain, but Hyangdan is reimagined as more openly desirous and ultimately more tragic. Original music is provided by the Gugak Center’s creative orchestra and jeongak (court music) singers will underscore the sorrow of parting. Principal dancers include Baek Mi‑jin and Lee Ha‑kyung as Chunhyang, Lee Yoon‑jung and Lee Do‑kyung as Hyangdan, and Kim Seo‑ryang and Yoon Jong‑hyun as Mongryong.
