The National Gugak Center will present "The Resonance of Korea, Bridging the World with Heung," a captivating traditional music and dance performance featuring Samulnori, Gyobang Gutgeori Dance, and Pangut at the Umm Al Emarat Park Amphitheatre in Abu Dhabi. The performances are scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM, with free admission and no reservations required.
This extraordinary stage production combines the vibrant rhythms of Korean traditional percussion with graceful dance movements, offering audiences a profound experience of the essence of Korean performing arts. The performance promises to deliver a mesmerizing evening filled with the energy, rhythm, and beauty of Korea's traditional music and dance heritage. However, organizers note that the schedule is subject to change depending on local circumstances.
The National Gugak Center serves as the heart of Korean classical performing arts and stands as a national institution with remarkable historical roots. Its origins trace back to the Eumseongseo of the Silla Dynasty in the 7th century, later evolving into Daeakseo during the Goryeo Dynasty in the late 10th century, and subsequently becoming Jangakwon of the Joseon Dynasty, which was established in 1466. The Center has preserved a rich array of cultural and artistic heritage, encompassing both court and folk music and dance passed down through generations, as well as modern compositions created specifically for contemporary audiences.
The program features three distinct traditional Korean performing arts, beginning with Samulnori, which literally means "the play of four things." This Korean percussion music is performed with four traditional instruments: kkwaenggwari, janggu, buk, and jing. Originally derived from traditional pungmulnori, Samulnori was reinterpreted for the stage in 1978 with one performer per instrument. While pungmulnori was traditionally a communal outdoor performance, Samulnori emphasizes artistry, precision, and rhythmic sophistication, with its dynamic tempo changes and vibrant beats captivating audiences through sheer energy and technical mastery.
The second featured performance is the Gyobang Gutgeori Dance, which originates from Gyobang, traditional provincial art institutions that specialized in music, dance, and performance during the Joseon Dynasty. The dance begins with elegant, bare-handed movements performed to the Gutgeori rhythm, and as the tempo shifts to the lively Jajinmori rhythm, the dancer picks up a sogo (small hand drum) and continues dancing. During the Gutgeori rhythm section, the dancer expresses refined and graceful movements, while in the Jajinmori section, the vibrant and free-spirited style characteristic of the Gyeongnam region unfolds vividly. The dance is particularly noted for movements that flow naturally from inner emotion, evoking the state of selflessness and harmony with nature described in Eastern philosophy.
Completing the program is Pan-gut, a form of nong-ak, which represents a traditional Korean performing art that combines percussion, dance, and theatrical elements to pray for community prosperity. Rooted deeply in agricultural society, nong-ak fostered unity and cultural creativity across various regions of Korea. Pan-gut features both group performances known as Jinbeopnori and solo performances called Gaeinnori, demanding exceptional musical technique and dynamic stage presence from its performers.
This Abu Dhabi presentation represents part of the ongoing efforts by Korean Cultural Centers abroad to promote Korean traditional arts internationally. The performances will showcase the depth and diversity of Korea's musical heritage while introducing audiences to the spiritual and artistic elements that have defined Korean culture for centuries.
