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What movements are characteristic of many forms of Korean dance?
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folk dance
Peasant Dance, oil on wood by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, c. 1568; in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
Many forms of traditional Korean dance are defined by specific, uniquely Korean gestures and body movements. These characteristic movements include:
- Footwork: Sliding each foot forward along the floor, ending in an upturning of the toes, which mirrors the shape of traditional Korean slippers.1
- Shoulder movement: The rhythmic lifting and lowering of the shoulders.1
Beyond these foundational movements, specific folk dances may incorporate more vigorous actions. For example, in the farmers' dance, performers move in a single file while lifting their knees high. Dancers in this tradition may also rotate their heads vigorously to cause long streamers attached to their hats to fly outward like whirligigs. These styles are generally accompanied by music that frequently utilizes triple metres.1