February 12, 2026Feb 12, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

School renowned for peasant dance

Date: 12/05/2019 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

The school gave peasant dance performances on hundreds of occasions over the past 20 years, including those for foreign guests. Young dancers of the school also participated in grand mass gymnastics and artistic performances Arirang and The Glorious Country, widely known as the acme of the arts.

Juvenile peasant dance is a work that represents peasant dance, which reflects the labour of Korean farmers, appealing mood of the countryside and gratifying bumper harvest, by dint of lively and lovely rhythms and skills of children. It may be something unexpected that such dance has been practised for decades in a Pyongyang school.

The school launched the dance in 1999.

Originally, its forte was boys’ group dance composed of energetic movements, but it turned to the folk dance in line with the trend of actively carrying on and developing national cultural heritage. At the time the dance teacher of the school, Ri Son Ok, was in her early 40s and she had received professional dance education.

“We started folk dance, not that we knew about it well. We buckled down to teaching the dance with the resolve to make it a process of implanting in the minds of students the fine qualities of our nation and a patriotic outlook on life,” recalled Ri.

The peasant dance piece of the school is the “Dance turning round decorative tassels on cap” performed by 20 children.

In the work various traditional rhythmic movements of peasant dance are represented artistically and in an amusing way in keeping with the modern sense of beauty. They include such movements made in the process of labour as reaping rice crop, tapping the back and wiping sweat, such entertaining movements as turning round the upper body, bending the legs and shaking the shoulders alternately, and the hopping walk, a kind of stepping technique peculiar to Korean dance. Special applause winners are the turning round of three-fathom-long decorative tassels on cap which is performed swiftly as well as that of 12- and 25-fathom-long decorative tassels on cap which is difficult even for adults to perform.

This dance was staged at the school on every folk holiday and later at district, city and national art performances of schoolchildren and at such national and international events as the April Spring Friendship Art Festival.

In the course of this, the juvenile peasant dance of the school was put on the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

More From Pyongyang Times

Great golden age of construction brings great transformation (2)

Great golden age of construction brings great transformation (2)

The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in December 2021 put forward a

February 11, 2026

The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in December 2021 put forward a

Russian president refers to economic issue

Russian president refers to economic issue

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the economic issue at a conference held on February 4. The inflation rate decreased

February 10, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the economic issue at a conference held on February 4. The inflation rate decreased

China condemns Japan’s ambition for rearmament

China condemns Japan’s ambition for rearmament

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the Japanese right-wing forces’ ambition for rearmament at a pr

February 10, 2026

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the Japanese right-wing forces’ ambition for rearmament at a pr

KPA founding anniversary marked across DPRK

KPA founding anniversary marked across DPRK

All the people and service personnel of the DPRK significantly celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's

February 10, 2026

All the people and service personnel of the DPRK significantly celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's

Women’s union officials, members hold dance party

Women’s union officials, members hold dance party

A dance party of women's union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on February 8, the

February 10, 2026

A dance party of women's union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on February 8, the

Youth and students celebrate KPA birthday with dance parties

Youth and students celebrate KPA birthday with dance parties

Dance parties of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 8, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean

February 10, 2026

Dance parties of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 8, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean

Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm harvests vegetables

Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm harvests vegetables

The newly-built Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm has harvested vegetables for the first time this year. With high pride in living

February 10, 2026

The newly-built Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm has harvested vegetables for the first time this year. With high pride in living

Art performance staged in celebration of KPA birthday

Art performance staged in celebration of KPA birthday

The Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK gave a music and dance performance at the Ponghwa Art

February 10, 2026

The Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK gave a music and dance performance at the Ponghwa Art

KPA commanding officers visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

KPA commanding officers visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

No Kwang Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Ri Yong Gil and other commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence and commanders of

February 10, 2026

No Kwang Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Ri Yong Gil and other commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence and commanders of

Hungary sues EU for banning import of Russian energy

Hungary sues EU for banning import of Russian energy

Hungary brought a legal action to the European Court of Justice on February 2 in protest against the decision of the European

February 09, 2026

Hungary brought a legal action to the European Court of Justice on February 2 in protest against the decision of the European

Meeting held to convey ‘Jingmaeng’ farm machines

Meeting held to convey ‘Jingmaeng’ farm machines

“Jingmaeng” farm machines, provided by the trade union organizations ahead of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, w

February 09, 2026

“Jingmaeng” farm machines, provided by the trade union organizations ahead of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, w

More Articles