Korean Dance Research Institute under the Phibada Opera Troupe was first established in 1946 as the Choe Sung Hui Dance Studio.
It has a long history of studying and developing excellent traditions of the national dance and thus has left an outstanding mark in the development of the Korean national dance by scientifically formulating the theories and practical issues arising in discovering and preserving folk dance movements.
Choe Sung Hui, the first head of the studio, contributed greatly to modernizing the Korean national dance. She selected and defined gracious movements of strong national mood through a close study of the folk dance, and based on is published a book, titled, Fundamentals of the Traditional Korean Dances , in 1937.
The book which provided the theoretical basis for creating dances by sustaining diverse and rich Korean rhythmic patterns was greatly favoured by dancers.
The institute commenced the research into a new dance notation in 1972.
At that time Labanotation and other dance notations were in vogue worldwide, but as they were not versatile for the movements of all rhythmic patterns, they were not widely applicable to practice.
Researchers of the institute conducted persevering efforts for over a decade to develop a new dance notation for recording all representational elements based on the rhythmic movements of human, and made public the Korean-style alphabetical dance notation in 1987.
The new dance notation was highly appreciated for its scientific accuracy and practicability at the tenth session of the international dance council held in Pyongyang in September 1992.
The institute developed Paekhak , a dance score editing program, and put the writing and editing of dance scores on an IT footing.
At present it is actively conducting the work to thoroughly discover folk dance patterns with local peculiarities, preserve and develop them as suited to the modern aesthetic sentiments.
A strenuous effort is also given to the development of new branches of cross-disciplinary sciences, combining dance with psychology, aesthetics, pedagogics and other branches.
Nam Su Hyang, a researcher of the institute, says with confidence that the institute will step up its efforts to sustain and develop the tradition of graceful and beautiful Korean dance.
Om Hyang Sim
More From Naenara (En)
November 16 is Mother’s Day in the DPRK. The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung attended the First National Conference of Mothers
November 16, 2025
November 16 is Mother’s Day in the DPRK. The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung attended the First National Conference of Mothers
Tangible results have been achieved in the effort to implement the comprehensive mechanization of the rural economy. For the past
November 16, 2025
Tangible results have been achieved in the effort to implement the comprehensive mechanization of the rural economy. For the past
Songs imbued with love and affection for mothers are widely sung across the country in the run-up to Mother’s Day (November 16).
November 16, 2025
Songs imbued with love and affection for mothers are widely sung across the country in the run-up to Mother’s Day (November 16).
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
November 15, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
November 15, 2025
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
The bell from the Yujom Temple is one of the Korean historical relics, which show the talent of the Korean ancestors. The bell had
November 15, 2025
The bell from the Yujom Temple is one of the Korean historical relics, which show the talent of the Korean ancestors. The bell had
Completed in October 2002, the 150-odd-km-long Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway is a gravitational waterway system for irrigating th
November 15, 2025
Completed in October 2002, the 150-odd-km-long Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway is a gravitational waterway system for irrigating th
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
November 15, 2025
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
November 15, 2025
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
On November 13 Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of
November 15, 2025
On November 13 Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled “G7
November 14, 2025
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled “G7
Machine factories across the country have finished the production of equipment for the regional-industry factories to be built
November 14, 2025
Machine factories across the country have finished the production of equipment for the regional-industry factories to be built
The Myohyangsan Pine Tree, named so as it grows in Mt Myohyang, is found in Hyangam-ri, Hyangsan County, Jagang Province.The tree
November 14, 2025
The Myohyangsan Pine Tree, named so as it grows in Mt Myohyang, is found in Hyangam-ri, Hyangsan County, Jagang Province.The tree
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The new village is the precious
November 14, 2025
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The new village is the precious
There took place a story-telling meeting “Mother’s Happiness” of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the
November 14, 2025
There took place a story-telling meeting “Mother’s Happiness” of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
November 14, 2025
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
A bowling alley has been newly built in the Kuksa Peak area of Nampho Municipality. This adds more to the status of the area as a
November 14, 2025
A bowling alley has been newly built in the Kuksa Peak area of Nampho Municipality. This adds more to the status of the area as a
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign
November 14, 2025
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
November 14, 2025
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
November 14, 2025
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
More Articles
