Kim Sung-yong: Inclusive Contemporary Dance to Drive Sustainable Growth
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Kim Sung-yong, artistic director of the National Contemporary Dance Company of Korea (Asia’s only national contemporary dance company), says he is committed to making contemporary dance a sustainable, more accessible art form. His company won the top dance award at the 12th Editory Culture Awards for the piece "What I Saw in the Water," choreographed by Kim Bora and inspired by her personal experience with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Since taking the post in 2023, Kim has promoted the idea of "dancing together with everyone," expanding repertoire with works by choreographers like Jeong Rok-yi and William Forsythe. He highlights how Korean dancers and works, including the company’s signature piece "Jungle," are gaining recognition at major international festivals and theatres across Europe and Asia. Kim advises audiences to appreciate contemporary dance sensorially—like music or painting—by following the feelings a performance evokes rather than overanalyzing movements.
