Dance, Politics, and Institution: How Dance Reflects Politics

Abstract

Political reflections on dance have long been discussed. Some explored external impacts of politics on dance, while others tried to find philosophical meaning of politics in explaining dance. However, there are few studies on how and why dance reflects politics. Existing studies tend to apply a concept of politics, not a discipline of politics. This research attempts to explain dance by using a method of political science. It views dance as a social phenomenon. Dance as a social factor is influenced by social changes. I especially focus on how political and economic institutions in South Korea affect the form and content of Korean dance. By examining history of Korean traditional dance from the 1960s to the 2010s, I trace the relationship between institutional changes and the dance. Since the Korean economy achieved rapid growth in the 1970s, the form of Korean dance has been changed to a type of dance drama. On the other hand, political change towards democracy has affected the content of dance. Through a lens of institutional changes, I explain dance as a social phenomenon and reveal the relationship with Korean society.