Korean Classical Music Dance Performance at Pomun Lake Resort

Open-air Korean classical music performances are to take place at Pomun Lake Resort starting April 1. The preformances are under the auspices of the Kyongbuk Tourism Development Corporation, and they plan to make this an annual event and will continue the performances until December. The performance venue is the open-air stage in the center of Pomun behind the Choson Hotel complex.

This performance was awarded official recognition by the ministry of Culture and Tourism last year for the excellence and quality of its production. Even without the ministry's help, the popularity of the performances is easily proven with total audience numbers that have seen the event at 150,000 since its 1991 inception.

The Shilla Traditional Performing Arts Group with its 25-member troupe featured in the performances is based in the Yongnam area in South Kyongsang Province and shows a wide versatility in the various demanding genres of classical dance and accompanying music.

Seven to eight 90-minute performances are put on every day with the 'Puchaechum'(fan dance),'Sonnyochum'(maidens' dance), 'Changgochum'(hourglass drum dance), 'Sungmu'(Buddhist nun's dance) and 'Samulnori'(foursome of percussion instruments) promised highlights of the performance repetoire. This year, 'Taepyongmu'(court dance for a peaceful reign) and 'Sonhwakongju'(ancient court dance re-telling the story of a queen from the Paekjae period) will be performed especially prepared for Kyongju World Culture Expo 2000.

Performances are at 2:30 p.m. everyday in March with Wednesdays off, at 8:30 p.m. on weekends from May to June, and at 8:30 p.m. everyday from July to October also with Wednesdays off. Also there will be 2:30 p.m performances on weekends during the month of December. For reservations and more information, please contact (0561) 740-7332.

by Hwang Son-yun