Spectacle de la danse traditionnelle

Inspired by a fascinating legend from the Silla kingdom (-57 to 935), the Cheoyongmu dance plunges us into a story over a thousand years old, where dance, song, and popular beliefs meet.

This theatrical and choreographic tradition originates from the legend of Cheoyong, son of the dragon king Yongwang, who came among men in the 9th century. According to the story, Cheoyong returned home one evening and discovered a mysterious being with his wife.

Even though he thought he had been betrayed, he began to sing and dance. It was actually a smallpox spirit who, touched by his attitude, renounced harming him and promised never to enter a house where Cheoyong's face appeared.

This episode gave rise to a lasting popular belief: an effigy of Cheoyong, placed on doors, was supposed to protect homes from diseases and malevolent forces.

Born from the popular beliefs of the Silla period, the Cheoyongmu dance transformed over the centuries, progressively integrating the codes and values of court culture, particularly under the Joseon dynasty.

It thus bears witness to the evolution and remarkable continuity of Korean choreographic traditions through the centuries.

Inscribed since 2009 on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, this tradition, transmitted for over 1,100 years, was historically performed during exorcism rites or royal banquets.

Today, it is reinterpreted on stage, where its symbolic and aesthetic dimension continues to shine. The performance brings together five dancers dressed in the five fundamental Korean colours (white, blue, black, red, and yellow), symbolising the harmony and balance of the world.

Masked and adorned with ritual attributes, they move according to codified, ample, and majestic gestures, punctuated by songs and tempo variations.

This show is presented in collaboration with the Cheoyongmu Preservation Association and benefits from the support of the Korea Heritage Agency (KHA) and the National Intangible Heritage Centre.