By MD.Moon hyung suk
Yewon School’s young dancers showcase the elegance of Korean heritage at the 30th Yilan International Children’s Folklore Festival
In a captivating celebration of cross-cultural dialogue, a group of young dancers from South Korea’s prestigious Yewon School has mesmerised international audiences at Taiwan’s 30th Yilan International Children’s Folklore & Folkgame Festival — Asia’s largest folk arts festival for children and youth.
Held annually at Dongshan River Water Park in Yilan County, the month-long festival brings together over 100 participating cultural troupes from across the world. This year’s theme, “A Borderless Heart, A World of Play,” set the tone for a dynamic interplay of heritage and creativity, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors between 5 July and 17 August.
The Yewon Dance Company, invited as an official guest ensemble, performed daily from 26 July to 4 August. Their repertoire — a blend of classical and contemporary Korean dance forms including Eolssu Jeolssu, Salpuri, Ganggangsullae, Taepyeongmu, and a newly choreographed Hallyangmu — brought Korean cultural aesthetics to life on the open-air stage.
“This was not merely a performance. It was a bridge between nations, a moment of shared humanity through art,” said Artistic Director Shon Mi-Jung. “Our students, though young, brought maturity and national pride to the global stage.”
Founded in 1967, the Yewon Dance Company is rooted in the artistic vision of pioneers such as Lim Seong-Nam and Choi Hyun. It has since evolved into one of Korea’s foremost youth dance ensembles, with alumni performing on international stages — including the Mariinsky Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, and the Hamburg Ballet.
Yewon School itself stands as a unique institution in South Korea. As the country’s first early arts education centre, it rigorously selects students with exceptional talent in music, dance and fine arts. Located in the cultural heart of Seoul, the school’s curriculum fuses technique with creativity, preparing students for both local and global impact.
The troupe’s performances in Taiwan were met with high praise from local press and cultural observers alike, many lauding their poise, precision, and emotive power. Their success illustrates not only the artistic capacity of Korean youth but also the growing international relevance of Korean traditional arts in intercultural contexts.
Yewon’s mission does not end with the stage. The school is preparing for its upcoming community outreach performance “Dancing of Light and Love” in November, bringing the healing power of dance to elderly care homes in Seoul. It also continues to expand its global partnerships, with future cultural exchanges planned across Europe and the Middle East.
