Which movements are characteristic of traditional Korean dance?

Traditional Korean dance, excluding modern concert dance, is defined by several unique gestures and body movements that are characteristic across various forms, including court, folk, and sacred dances.1

Key movements include:

• Footwork: Dancers slide each foot forward along the floor, ending with an upturning of the toes, a motion that mirrors the shape of traditional Korean slippers.1
• Shoulder movement: A distinct lifting and lowering of the shoulders is a hallmark of the style.1
• High-knee locomotion: In certain folk dances, such as the farmers' dance, performers move in a single file while lifting their knees high.1
• Head rotation: In specific folk traditions, dancers vigorously rotate their heads to manipulate long streamers attached to their hats, causing them to fly outward like whirligigs.1

These movements are often accompanied by music frequently set in triple metres. While court dances are generally characterized by a slow, dignified, and refined tempo, folk dances are typically more lively and earthy in their execution.1