This study examines the significance of Korean performing arts history by focusing on the Little Angels’ organizations and management, the composition of the repertoires, and the meaning of international performing arts history. As a semi-professional organization, the Little Angels developed and operated the member selection musician system, and toured through overseas professional management in the early days. The repertoires of the Little Angels, including Korean traditional dance, music, and choral music were staged, established and systematized as the standard repertoires during the early activities of the cultural mission. Little Angels' dance was developed to be suitable for the children's group dances and the overseas staging of the new dance, and the choral repertoire, which included Korean folk songs and world folk songs played a major role in public diplomacy. As the only 'folk art troupe' among children's art troupes active in the international performing arts world, the Little Angels helped introduce Korean performing arts to the international audiences. Through the study of the Little Angels, a children's art troupe as well as a private art troupe with a 60-year history of international activities, this paper encompassed the history of Korean contemporary performing arts in a rich and stereoscopic way.

The Little Angels is one of the organizations that has served as a cultural delegation representing Korea since the barren art world of the 1960s and 1970s. One of the most outstanding achievements of the Little Angels, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, is the recognition of the excellence of our dance both domestically and internationally through a variety of dance repertoires. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the dance repertoire from various angles and to examine its characteristics. The characteristics of their dance repertoire include the establishment of our own repertoire as a cultural delegation, the creation of Korean dances based on New Dance, the development of categories encompassing both songs and dances, and the composition of works centered on group dances. Further, it is also characterized by the flexibility of program composition, the use of dance moves that students can perform, the educational effects that produced future leaders in the domain, the focus on the Little Angels repertoire rather than an individual choreographer, the relatively rare copyright issues, as well as the repertoire renewal appropriate to the current era. Through this research, it is possible to confirm the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of the dance repertoire that has been passed down over the past half century.

This study examines periods, characteristics, activities, and the significance of the 60 years The Little Angels, a Korean children’s performing arts troupe. The research was conducted through a literature survey, the review of primary data including concert programs, newspapers, films, and interviews with key informants. The troupe formulated members, management, and repertoires during its ‘Formulated Period,’ In its ‘Cultural Ambassador Period’ in the context of the International Cold War and nation-building, the troupe played its role as a cultural ambassador with the mission to dispatch Korean culture to the “free world,” beginning with the US, then Europe, Asia, and South America. In the ’Private Troupe Transition Period’ of the 1980s, the troupe focused on domestic rather than overseas activities, yet performed at major events like the Seoul Olympic Games. After 1991, during its ‘Peace Delegation Period,’ the troupe again concentrated on overseas performances in the post-Cold War context and toured the USSR, North Korea, China, and UN nations that participated in the Korean War. This study examines The Little Angels unique position and provides a rich and multi-dimensional views of contemporary Korean performing arts history as created by the intersection of global and Korean concerns.

This paper investigated the theme ‘creation’ with the focus on the Korean traditional dances. At first, the problems in the creation of existing Korean dances were analyzed. Through the analysis, the creative factors lacking in individual characteristics were presented and the introduction of the western-oriented concept of creation was critically examined. On the basis of the awareness on the difference of artistic concept between eastern and western world, the concept of creation was discussed in the transmission history of dances. Next, the frame of reference for the creation of the traditional dance was presented. It includes the formation of lines and surfaces through principle of circulation, the formation of dance styles based on the traditional breath method, the approach to interpret rhythms and the application of steps. In conclusion, the events inducing the creation of traditional dances were identified and presented in the ancient literature.

This study examines the relationships between Rudolf von Laban and Nazi of German from 1933 to 1937. This study began to answer the question that ‘Did Laban have any relationship with Nazi?’. The result is as follows. Laban joined the Nazi and cooperated, propaganda in 1930 and rewarded with social status, economical support, and got a chance to performance, festivals, lectures organized by Nazi. The suggestions based on the results of this study are as follows. First, It is need to a new 'historical understandings'about Laban's relationship with Nazi and processing of refuge is needed. He joined the Nazi,assisted in their propaganda activities, and received salary from German Empire Culture Center. Also, he remained a propaganda official in late 1937. Second, There was two perspectives about the characteristic of relationship between Laban and Nazi: voluntary and coercive. Laban showed a little ambiguous attitude to Nazi in regards to his arts and propaganda's loyalty. Third, we need various perspectives about the relationships of Laban and Nazi and further study of effect of Laban's art and art activities.

This paper explores the concept of 'Performing Body on Stage' based on the choreographic work Glory which considers the critical point of view on system and body in relation to Korean sociocultural context. Glory focuses on the physical experience of Korean male dancers, experiencing the military service and dance competitions, questions the system recreated in the body, and asks "is the body free in dance?" To shape this into work, the dancer’s reflective testimonies are used as the materials of choreography, and the conceptualized and contextualized structure is developed into the form of ‘choreographic documentary’. In this paper, I refer Judith Butler’s proposal on ‘vulnerability and resistance’ to construct the frame of this study. I analyze the choreographic approach to the dancer’s body and how a ‘vulnerable body’ can be transformed into a ‘political subject’ through the choreographer’s practice in Glory. When the apparatus which are invisible but attached to the body are visualized on stage, the body exposes the social and political form. In this sense, finding the index of precarity associated with physical vulnerability was not only the process of choreography but also becoming subject in this work. Having physical autonomy in dance is that one actualizes the potential of artistic creation latent in individual diversity, not the military body identity, which moves in an interminable manner with the same identity. This artistic act of the choreographer is political as well as aesthetic in terms of re-asking about the nature of the dance and contemporary arts at the same time.

Based on the practice PBR (Practice Based Research), this study investigates the entire process from the planning of Frame in Gymnasium Hall I of Ewha Womans University on Jun. 7, 2019 to its performance. It means textualizing and historicizing a performance work overcoming the ephemerality and temporality of the dance

Referencing the concept of the analysis method presented in “Frame Analysis” (1974) of a famous American scholar Erving Goffman(1922~1982), Frame consists of three sub-themes, “assumptions,” “experience composition and frame,” and “basic keys.” The choreographic purpose of Frame is to deliver a message to form the choreographer’s own frame independently and actively, rather than to passively adapt within the confrontation of frame.

The results of this study on the creation, choreographing process and practice to its performance are as follows. First, Frame’s intention and subject of choreography was effectively revealed through the visual and auditory elements. Second, I could be found from immersion in movements through my inner workings and breathing. Lingering imagery of breathing and feelings could be felt during the practice and performance. Third, expression of the researcher’s life direction in Frame helped building the choreographer’s artistic world. This paper will provide an opportunity for the researcher to gain researcher’s capability of research and grow as an artist in dance creation field.