SEOUL, April 25, (Korea Bizwire) — The rhythmic pounding of the janggu drum signaled the beginning of Speed, the latest production from the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre, which premiered April 24 at S Theater in the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
As the beats accelerated, dancers moved with explosive urgency—circling, sprinting, and collapsing—until only one remained, disoriented without those who once led the charge.
Directed and choreographed by artistic director Yoon Hye-jung, Speed is her first major work since assuming the role last year. The performance explores themes of acceleration, endurance, and existential inertia in a society defined by relentless momentum.
Divided into six acts with a prologue and epilogue, Speed uses the traditional Korean rhythmic system of jangdan as a core structural element. However, the work defies expectations of Korean dance as slow or serene. Instead, it embraces extreme tempo shifts, dissonant beats, and bursts of improvisation, including a five-minute solo that varies each night.
Rather than emphasizing synchronized ensemble movement, the piece foregrounds individual interpretation. Dancers express personal rhythms within shared cadences, revealing differences in intensity and style—an intentional nod to individuality within collective experience.
The production marks a bold stylistic shift. Traditional percussion is fused with electronic music and LED media art, lending the stage an otherworldly, contemporary aesthetic. Percussionist Hwang Min-wang, known from the fusion band Black String, collaborates onstage with French electronic musician Haemi Clemencewicz to provide a dynamic, genre-blending score.
Yoon said Speed reflects the collective fatigue and existential questioning of a generation shaped by hyper-speed modern life. “We’re always rushing forward, tense and breathless. This piece asks: what’s left at the end of that sprint?”
Tickets—1,188 seats across four performances through April 27—sold out quickly, an uncommon feat for a traditional Korean dance production, underscoring a growing appetite for innovative reinterpretations of heritage arts in 2025.
Image credit : Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
