A meaningful cultural exchange program dedicated to spreading the deep resonance and true essence of Korean traditional dance unfolded in Berlin, Germany. "Verein Koreanische Tänze in Deutschland e.V.," a Korean traditional dance association based in Berlin, invited master traditional dancer Lee Kyung-hwa to hold a seven-day Jindo Buk-chum (drum dance) workshop starting August 7. Hosted by the Woori Dance Company (led by Director Kim Yeon-sun) and organized by the aforementioned association, this special program was designed to directly introduce Korean traditional dance to local Berlin residents while allowing them to experience the dynamic power, excitement, drum resonance, and bodily breath inherent in Korean folk dance.

In particular, the workshop served as a precious venue where the first-generation Korean nurse dance troupe in Germany and local residents came together, amplifying the significance of cultural exchange that bridges generations and cultures through Korean traditional dance. Master Lee Kyung-hwa showed extraordinary affection and dedication to Korean dance by visiting Berlin twice in less than a month. Having previously attended the 2nd Korea-Germany Festival last July as an honorary member and artistic director of the Woori Dance Company, Master Lee showcased the depth and true stature of Korean dance on the Berlin stage. She flew a long distance at that time to support juniors promoting Korean dance locally and to take the stage together with them.

An unexpected bond with Berlin continued when changes arose in her subsequent European schedule. Upon hearing about the altered schedule, her students and juniors in Berlin cautiously proposed, "If so, would you be able to visit Berlin once more?" and Master Lee accepted their request without hesitation. The thought of people waiting for her in a distant foreign land—where opportunities to meet a mentor and learn Korean dance deeply are rare—drew her back to Berlin.

As a leading figure in the Korean dance community, Master Lee has served as the chair of the O-yeon Culture and Arts Foundation and the Korea Sejong Youth Foundation, and she previously served as the inaugural chair and current advisor of the Park Byung-cheon Style Jindo Buk-chum Preservation Society. She has received the Prime Minister's Award as a Meritorious Figure in National Overseas Public Relations and the President's Award (for Sogo-chum), and she is a certified master of the National Intangible Cultural Heritages Salpuri-chum and Seungmu, having widely publicized the depth and dignity of Korean traditional dance both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, she directed and choreographed major national events such as the "Spring Maiden" opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics (Note: historical context adapted), the "Greeting of Lanterns" closing ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the "Nuri Buk" opening performance of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, showcasing the beauty of Korean traditional arts on national stages. With an extensive background as an educator, she graduated from Seoul Arts High School, earned her bachelor's and graduate degrees in dance from Ewha Womans University along with a doctoral degree in kinesiology/dance science, and served as an instructor at the Korea National University of Arts and Ewha Womans University, an adjunct professor at Myongji University, and head of the dance department at Kaywon Arts High School, seamlessly connecting stage performance and education.

During this Jindo Buk-chum workshop, participants shouldered drums in the distant foreign land of Berlin, shedding beads of sweat while learning traditional Korean rhythms and breathing technique step by step. It became a precious time to directly experience the vitality and communal energy of Korean folk dance through drum-based movements and bodily flow. Master Lee shared that she realized anew through this workshop that true fulfillment comes not just from shining on grand stages, but from being someone genuinely needed by others. She added that her two consecutive visits to Berlin within a month began as a coincidence, but turned into a precious time because there was still affection left to share.

Shim Yeon-joo, representative of Verein Koreanische Tänze in Deutschland e.V., emphasized that Master Lee Kyung-hwa generously sharing the essence of Korean dance with Berlin citizens and the first-generation Korean nurse dance team was a highly meaningful achievement. She evaluated that this workshop served as a valuable opportunity to deeply understand the artistic and educational value of Korean traditional dance in Germany and expand the horizons of cultural and artistic exchange between Korea and Germany. This special time embodied the artistic mindset of sharing dance wherever there are people in need of Korean traditional dance and as long as strength remains to reach those places, leaving a deep and lasting impression in Berlin.

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