The beauty of emptiness and restraint: 'One Dance' returns for its fourth season

A royal ritual reimagined on stage, "Ilmu," or "One Dance," blends tradition with modern artistry.

The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater's striking performance is drawing full houses and preparing to tour beyond the capital.

Our News Features reporter Byeon Ye-young tells us more.

Dancers in perfect unison, creating geometric shapes that expand, contract, vanish, then reappear.

'Ilmu' , meaning "One Dance", is a modern take on the ancestral rites once performed for Joseon Dynasty kings and queens at Jongmyo Shrine.

It's presented by the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater, reimagining Jongmyo Jeryeak , a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

"It's a piece built on the idea of setting aside the individual, placing oneself within order, and joining a unified dance with the hope that everything will come together in harmony."

This year marks its fourth run, following three successful seasons and sold-out shows at New York's Lincoln Center in 2023.

The performance opens with the traditional Ilmu dance, shifts into contemporary dance, and concludes with a modern fusion that blends the two.

What never changes are the principles of unison and multiplication.

Dancers move together like a single breathing organism.

"Even though our dancers are from different age groups, we move and even breathe together. What seems simple on stage actually takes a lot of work and focus, so I hope the audience can feel the effort and energy we put into that harmony."

Every movement, down to the angle of the fingers, is intentional.

As is the use of silence.

At times, the only sounds are the slight rustle of fabric and the dancers' near-silent footsteps.

The stage design is deliberately minimal, creating contrast with bold costumes inspired by 'obangsaek' , the five traditional colors of Korea.

The beauty of emptiness and restraint is also what Director Jung Ku-ho wanted to highlight in the performance.

"The stage often opens up a white space at the center as props and dancers gather, scatter, empty out, and regroup. We explored choreography that reflects this constant flow, pursuing the beauty of emptiness. The stage itself was also designed to highlight that sense of space."

The four-day run in Seoul ended with every seat sold out.

Next, "One Dance" will travel to Gangneung city and Daegu city to share its vision of tradition and modernity.

Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.