Arirang: Korean Ritual Solos

Having developed her own distinctive style with revered masters of Korea’s ancient dance rituals, Myung Soo Kim blends rich artistic legacy with contemporary Eastern and Western influences in Arirang: Korean Ritual Solos. Fusing elegant shamanic gestures and scenarios with sumptuous costumes and authentic music, Kim delivers an intensely personal performance, which bridges centuries of tradition in an evening of captivating cultural exchange. Featured in one of the program’s seven dances, Kim’s personal arirang (a folksong typically sung during labor, at leisure time, and over drinks) illustrates her harrowing experience as a political refugee caught up in a messy political game between North Korea, South Korea, and the U.S.