Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
6-2026
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Theatre
Advisor
Peter Eckersall
Committee Members
James F. Wilson
Claudia Orenstein
Subject Categories
Dance | Korean Studies | Other Theatre and Performance Studies
Keywords
Korean dance, changjak chum, contemporary dance, Koreanness, creative dance, traditional dance
Abstract
This dissertation examines the formation of changjak chum (literally, “newly created dance”), a new form of Korean dance that emerged in the mid-1970s, as an inquiry into new Koreanness through dance. Changjak chum arose in post-independence, post-division South Korea in opposition to sinmuyong (“new dance”)—a form developed by Japanese-trained Korean modern dancers during the colonial period that was increasingly considered to have ceased to reflect changing realities—with an aim to reclaim tradition by creating a new Korean dance. Considering a dance form as an expression of deeply embodied experiences of reality and historical consciousness, I investigate changjak chum both as a dance form and a cultural and historical phenomenon that evolved through Korea’s tumultuous yet dynamic modern era—from decades of military dictatorship following the Korean War and division, to rapid industrialization, economic development, and its rise as a new global power. I argue that the trajectory of changjak chum is marked by how Korean dance artists have interrogated new Koreanness as a newly envisioned national identity and sought to embody it. This dissertation explores the key questions: How has changjak chum evolved as a dance form, an embodied practice, and an inquiry into contemporary Korean identity over the past fifty years? And in what ways have Korean dance artists dedicated to advancing the form charted their paths to investigate new Koreanness, especially in the face of challenges—both imposed and internalized—that question its identity as “Korean” dance?
In doing so, this dissertation draws on comprehensive scholarship in Korean and East Asian modern history, dance studies, and performance studies, addressing significant gaps among them. Further, it provides a necessary intervention in the Western-centric discourse on contemporary dance by foregrounding the specific regional context of changjak chum. This dissertation is the first in-depth English-language study of changjak chum, a topic that has been underexplored and overshadowed by the recent global interest in K-pop and its highly commercial use of music and dance.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Dahye, "Choreographing New Koreanness: The Formation of Changjak Chum (“Newly Created Dance”) in South Korea’s Cultural Landscape since the 1970s" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6691
