"Typically, shaman rituals are performed by shamans to alleviate misfortune or provide comfort. It seems like the shaman will solve everything. However, 'Mugamseogi' conveys that if you truly want to receive blessings, you must participate in the ritual yourself. It’s about taking action to bring blessings rather than relying on someone else." (Yoon Hye-jung, Director of the Seoul City Dance Company)
'Mugamseogi' is a traditional folk practice where, at the peak of a shaman ritual, the person requesting the ritual wears the shaman's attire and dances spontaneously to the rhythm, releasing their emotions. This performance will be presented by the Seoul City Dance Company at the Sejong Center's main theater.
During a press call for 'Mugamseogi' on September 10, Yoon Hye-jung stated, "Mugamseogi is a process of resolving pain and sorrow from within rather than blaming others and finding oneself."
The concept of 'Mugamseogi' emphasizes that the individual does not merely rely on a shaman to pray for blessings but actively participates in the dance to welcome those blessings.
Yoon found a relevant message in this practice for today’s society. He remarked, "I thought that in this era, we might need a process of self-reflection. I want to consider that our ancestors' 'Mugamseogi' contained the mindset and attitude of 'I had problems within me' and 'I can resolve them myself.'"
The project originated from research on shaman dances conducted while preparing for the Seoul City Dance Company's 2025 work 'Mimesis.' Yoon explained, "In traditional Seoul shaman rituals, when the shaman was in the midst of a performance, a member of the family would take the shaman's attire and dance spontaneously like the shaman. 'Mugamseogi' is about surrendering to the music and dancing as your body leads you."
To capture this spontaneity, the performance incorporates improvisation. Dancers, trained in precise choreography, are encouraged to express their own bodies and emotions. Additionally, the costumes are designed to appear different even with the same movements, with Yoon noting, "The angle and flow of the costumes are all directed by the dancer's fingertips, so even if the movements are the same, the way the costumes flow cannot be identical."
Efforts were made to modernize the performance to resonate with the audience. Yoon stated, "Shaman rituals and shamans were elements of our ancestors' communal life. When something happened, people would gather to perform rituals and share food, turning it into a festive occasion."
He added, "However, during the Japanese colonial period, the term 'superstition' was used to demean these practices. Through this opportunity, I want to discuss the folk elements that were integrated into our ancestors' lives."
However, it is regrettable that the sense of joy and liberation inherent in 'Mugamseogi' was not fully realized on stage. The energy of a festival, where participants jump in and dance together, was not felt. Although the performance depicted a journey through anxiety, pain, awareness, and hope, it remained shrouded in darkness until the end, which was intended to be a liberating climax. The dreamlike music and movements, which seemed on the verge of bursting forth yet never did, suppressed the spontaneity and excitement of the ritual. While the performance delved deeply into pain, it did not reach the liberation that follows.
The performance runs from September 10 to 13.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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