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)
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as
March 23, 2026
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 23, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK elected the Legislation Committee, the Budget Committee and
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK elected the Legislation Committee, the Budget Committee and
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the director of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the director of the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea elected the Standing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea elected the Standing
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK conducted the important and responsible work for electing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK conducted the important and responsible work for electing
Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the
March 23, 2026
Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the
Jangyon County in South Hwanghae Province is well known for its successful cultivation of barley. It has become a flourishing
March 23, 2026
Jangyon County in South Hwanghae Province is well known for its successful cultivation of barley. It has become a flourishing
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in late December 2021 set forth a
March 23, 2026
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in late December 2021 set forth a
The rice-and-wormwood cake is one of the traditional Korean foods. Here is a story about it. Once upon a time a mother took out
March 23, 2026
The rice-and-wormwood cake is one of the traditional Korean foods. Here is a story about it. Once upon a time a mother took out
Yut (four-stick) game is one of the typical folk games that have been played by the Korean people since before the Koguryo period
March 23, 2026
Yut (four-stick) game is one of the typical folk games that have been played by the Korean people since before the Koguryo period
The sacred place where the heroic feats of the martyrs in the overseas military operations will go down in history is filled with
March 22, 2026
The sacred place where the heroic feats of the martyrs in the overseas military operations will go down in history is filled with
A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang took place
March 22, 2026
A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang took place
The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, is the maker of the Unhasu -brand cosmetics with an
March 22, 2026
The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, is the maker of the Unhasu -brand cosmetics with an
The Onpho hot spring in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, has been well known for its marvellous effect on
March 22, 2026
The Onpho hot spring in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, has been well known for its marvellous effect on
Kaesong Municipality was once the capital of Koryo (918-1392), one of the feudal states in Korea. In the city there are many tombs
March 22, 2026
Kaesong Municipality was once the capital of Koryo (918-1392), one of the feudal states in Korea. In the city there are many tombs
The area of Mt Paektu, 2 750 metres above sea level, is noted as a global geopark. Recently it is better known as an iconic
March 21, 2026
The area of Mt Paektu, 2 750 metres above sea level, is noted as a global geopark. Recently it is better known as an iconic
Koguryo lasted from 277 BC to AD 668. The tombs of the first feudal state of Korea have paintings on walls and ceilings. The
March 21, 2026
Koguryo lasted from 277 BC to AD 668. The tombs of the first feudal state of Korea have paintings on walls and ceilings. The
More Articles
