Although Hwa-Gwan Mu was staged for the first time in late 1950s, it is believed to be originated from a type of dance performed by court dancers in banquets for royal family and foreign envoys. A Hwa-Gwan Mu dancer wears a Hwa-Gwan (Flower Crown) on her head and a colorful single piece outwear with a wide band on her waist. This costume was designed by modifying the traditional costume worn by shamans in old days.
Extremely wide sleeves and exaggerated six color cuffs are the unique features of this costume.
Gayagum is a traditional string instrument with twelve stings. Byung-Chang refers to a style of singing to the melody of a musical instrument which the singer herself plays.
(Gayagum)
A gifted singer, Kim Ch'ang-Jo, is known to be the first person who sang in this style in the later part of the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1910)
Gyo-Bang was the studio in the palace of the Joseon Dynasty where singing and dancing were taught to girls. After the Joseon Dynasty collapsed in 1910, the court dancers formed a cooperation of professional entertainers called Kisaengs and provided performing services upon request. Nowadays, Gyo-Bang Mu refers to a highly artistic dance performed by experienced dancers dressed in Kisaeng costumes.
A dancer plays the SAM-go MU on three drums hung vertically on the three sides of the wooden frames. The SAM-go MU is usually performed by a group of dancers.
This dance begins with a dramatic rolling of drum sticks around the rims of the drums, gradually building to a crescendo of passionate drumming. The dance
combines rhythmic dexterity with acrobatic movement.
According to a legend, a high-ranking government official by the name of Yi Hon of the Korea Dynasty(918-1392) picked up a piece of wood on the seashore where he was exiled and made a drum out of it which made a wonderful sound. This type of dance was first performed during the reign of King Seongjong (1457 -1494) and became populari in the late Joseon Dynasty.
Bu-Chae means a fan in Korean. Bu-Chae Chum, one of the most popular Korean folk dances, is typically performed by a group of women with folding fans. The dancers fold and unfold the fans according to the rhythm.
The climax of Bu-Chae Chum is when the dancers form a big fluttering flower.