UMS Concert Program, January 24, 1993: The Little Angels --

Season: 114TH
Concert: TWENTY-THIRD
Power Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan

University Musical Society
in association with Regency Travel
THE LITTLE ANGELS
Children's Folk Ballet of Korea
Lee, Moo Kyung, Artistic Director
Lee, No Kyun, Choreographer
Kim, II Kown, Choral Conductor
Song, Jee Young, Dance Instructor
Sunday Afternoon, January 24, 1993, at 4:00 Power Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
Flower Crown Dance Spring Time Fan Dance Dance of the Angels Travel At Night Penitent Monk
INTERMISSION
Hourglass Drum Dance Doll Dance Moon Festival Mask Dance Sword Dance Wedding Day Farmer's Festival Chorus
The U.S. tour of The Little Angels is made possible through the generosity of
Northwest Airlines
The Little Angels Folk Ballet of Korea is a presentation of Universal Artists Management, Inc.
TWENTY-THIRD CONCERT OF THE 114TH SEASON 22ND ANNUAL CHOICE SERIES
Program Notes
Flower Crown Dance
(Hwa Gwang Moo)
This is a modern adaptation of a court dance once reserved for royal banquets. Flower crowns, women's headgear used for court ceremonies or dances, symbolize beauty and courtesy. The girls, wearing flower crowns and colorful costumes, dance gracefully to melodies in slow tempo, dis?playing the characteristic traits of Korean traditional dance.
Spring Time (Chonyo Chongkak)
Traditionally, when spring comes to Korea, one can find the girls spending their days in the field, picking wild flowers while the boys go to the hillside to gather fire?wood. Frequently, they have been known to meet in the countryside, which, blan?keted by warm sunshine with gentle winds about, would find them dancing and laugh?ing together caught up in the spirit of gay spring in the making.
Fan Dance
(Buchae Chum)
The fan, a symbol of Oriental delicacy and exquisiteness, plays a prominent part in the traditional way of life of the Korean people. The Fan Dance, therefore, is one of the most popular dances in Korean folk literature. Opening and closing the fan expresses joy and excitement, and the dancers convey this through their decep?tively simple and beautifully symmetrical movements.
Dance of the Angels (Chunsa Chum)
Korean legends tell that heavenly an?gels sometimes descend to beautiful lake-sides to take a bath. One day, a Korean shepherd who was collecting firewood at a lakeside found an angel's wing. Soon the stranded angel returned and asked for the wing. She was so beautiful, he refused her request, hid the wing and fell in love with the angel. They had a dream life together;
a love so deep that the shepherd returned the wing without a doubt that she, too, remained in love. Soon, an angel proces?sion came down from Heaven looking for the lost angel. They found her in the lake with the boy; they isolated the boy from the lost angel and carried her away, leaving the boy in despair. The legend concludes with "Heaven is Heaven, earth is earth, the two can never mix."
Travel by Night (Bam Gil)
It is a common sight in Korea to see a little girl traveling at night on the back of her grandfather, usually with a lamp in her hand. Be sure to look carefully at how many people you can see on stage. Are there two There seem to be ... but sometimes, appearances are deceiving!
Penitent Monk
(Buk Chum)
This dance depicts the inner conflicts of a monk who has allowed himself to stray from the lofty principles and strict com?mandments of Buddha, deftly characteriz?ing by its attitudes and movements the eternal struggle between the world of the flesh and the world of the spirit. Each dancer performs this number with a set of six drums.
Hourglass Drum Dance
(Janggo Chum)
This age-old Korean dance is per?formed with a long slim drum that looks like an hourglass, slung across one shoul?der. Few other native dances call for such elaborate and acrobatic techniques. It is Korea's most exciting exposition of the art of combining sound with synchronous movement.
Doll Dance
(Gokdoo Kaksi)
Following the ancient custom in Korea, the New Year (by lunar calendar) is the time of highest joy and festivity. One
of the traditional games during this period is the Doll Dance. Each participant makes up a beautiful Korean doll and manipulates this doll, puppet fashion, in various move?ments of the dance. Here, The Little Angels become the dolls and give their interpretation of this ancient Doll Dance of the New Year.
Moon Festival
(Kang Kang Suwolae)
Traditionally, when August 15th (by lunar calendar) comes to Korea, every?where in the village there is celebration of the Moon Festival. This is the time when the moon is round and full. Korean people call this day "Choosuk" a day when new crops can be harvested. All dress in their prettiest festival dress, and all around the country the scene is happy with rejoicing over bumper crops. Since this festival is centered around the moon, this great event takes place at night. The Korean women set a huge bonfire, dancing around the fire under the light of the full moon. This dance and melody reflect Korea's deepest histori?cal traditions, and typify Korea's holiday spirit.
Mask Dance
(Tal Chum)
One of the most popular regional dances of the southern section of Korea is the Mask Dance. Invariably, when a native festival is celebrated in that region, the spectacular Mask Dance is included. This dance typifies the humor of life, and usually evokes outbursts of laughter. The Mask Dance is animated and fast in tempo and there is little restraint in character, cos?tumes and movement. Masks of all kinds are distinctly made according to the an?cient tradition of Korea.
Sword Dance
(Kum Moo)
Just as knighthood flourished in the ancient kingdoms of Europe, there was also a tradition of chivalrous warriors in ancient Korea, particularly during the Silla Dynasty of 2,000 years ago. At that time, the tradition of "Hwa-Rang" pervaded the Kingdom. This Korean Knighthood taught
the noble commands of loyalty, piety, valor, justice and mercy to the enemy who surrendered. The teachings of "Hwa-Rang" have been revered by all Koreans through?out history, and these same principles still live in the hearts of the Korean people today. "The Sword Dance" derives from this ancient knighthood of swordmanship and chivalry. This fascinating dance, orig?inally bold and masculine, has been trans?formed through the years into a graceful demonstration of terpsichorean art. The Little Angels now preserve this tradition in their charming and dramatic interpretation of the fierce ancient warriors of "Hwa-Rang."
Wedding Day
(Sijip Kanun Nal)
In ancient times, Korean boys and girls were sometimes married when they were little more than children. Moreover, there was frequently a wide difference in the ages of the happy () couple, so that a groom of, say, 12 years might well be called upon to take a wife of more than twice his years. Needless to say, the lady in such a case was of necessity a far more harried mother than a blushing bride! Let us see now what might happen on the occasion of such a ludicrous wedding.
Farm Festival
(Nong Ak)
Animated and masculine in character, the Farm Festival is an expression of the farmers' joy and thanksgiving. There are four separate movements or acts in this dance, followed by a finale in which all Little Angels perform. The four move?ments in sequence of performance are, "Song of the Fruitful Harvest," "Festival Time," "Spinning the Hats" and "Longer Than the Rainbow."
Chorus
About the Artists
The Little Angels, from the first beat of the "Hourglass Drum Dance" to the last whirl of their exotic costumes, bring theaters and television screens alive with excitement and beauty.
Since its beginning in 1965, this group has been bringing joy and entertainment to millions of people throughout the world. In sixteen world tours they have given more than 2,000 perfor?mances in 40 countries, and have appeared in 200 special televi?sion performances.
In September 1971, The Little Angels went to Europe for the first time. At their British debut at Sadler's Wells Theatre, they were so highly acclaimed by critics and the public that they were invited to return in November to appear before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium.
The Little Angels are dedicated and spirited young ladies ages seven to fifteen, who have been especially selected and trained in Korean folk arts to perform around the world under the sponsorship of the Korean Cultural Foundation in Seoul, Korea. The ensemble's repertoire is based on tradition and steeped in ancient legend and folklore, with many songs and dances originating as long as 2,000 years ago. These include stately court dances accompanied by the delicate and exotic music of the traditional "Aak" or Court Orchestra, and the exuberant and joyful dances and songs from the fields and villages of rural Korea, often punctuated by drums, gongs and cymbals played by the dancers themselves.
The Little Angels have achieved the honor of representing their proud history and civilization.
They have twice before performed in Ann Arbor, including appearances in 1973 and 1965, their inaugural year.
THE LITTLE ANGELS Children's Folk Ballet of Korea
Administration
Tour Manager General Affairs Hospitality Interpreter Photographer
Caroline Betancourt Jeun, Mi Sook Kim, Chung Ja Yoon, Sang Sup Lee, In Kook
Production
Technical Director Stage Manager Stage Assistants
Lighting Manager Sound Engineer Sound Assistant Wardrobe Manager Property Master
Aim, Chun Heung Yum, Sot) Chun Kim, Myung Ho Lee, Soon Ku Park, Kee Suck Kim, Song Keun Jeon, Kye Sik Kim, Sang Kyun Jeun, Hee Ja Kim, Sang Hyun