Folk Arts - Master Artist - Kim Ri-Hae

Kim Ri-Hae is a master of both the Seungmu and Salpuri, two vital Korean folk dances which are centuries old. The Seungmu (Monk Dance) utilizes fluttering white sleeves, tense stillness and flowing motion. The Salpuri was originally an exorcism dance, part of a shamanic rite. Salpuri literally means, “to wash away evil spirits” and is a dance saturated with sorrow and anxiety in every move. The current Korean Human Cultural Asset for both these dances, Lee Mae-Bang, will be passing the title on to Kim. During her residence in the US, Kim is taking the opportunity to teach the traditional dances to Korean- American, Inhee Paik Treadwell.

As the recipient of a 1997 Apprenticeship grant, Ri-Hae taught Inhee Paik Treadwell advanced Seungmu and Salpuri dance techniques. Inhee first met Ri-Hae in Seoul Korea and began to learn the dance when in Korea. Inhee has danced for many years and teaches pupils of her own. Ready to learn more, Inhee spent the apprenticeship year studying advanced techniques necessary for the dances.