If you'd like to better understand the culture of a country, a dance performance is an excellent introduction. And while traditional Korean dance holds a rich, tender history, I would venture to say that this performance, “Chum Bon: Sky, Land and Human,” goes above and beyond viewing expectations.

In 1987, Chum Bon became the first major Korean dance production to fuse modern and traditional styles and was praised as a fantastic rendition. Two years later, in Chum Bon II, religious aspects were included that incorporated Buddhist rituals, folk dance and the role of shamans in music and society.

Interesting to note, Kim Mae-ja, the creator and director of this event, combined dynamic contemporary and traditional dance moves purely out of personal interest; the idea of a staged event came later. Initially, she was searching for unique personal training methods and developed a dance-based physical fitness routine to boost her health.

Chum Bon is a focused event, which entails five components. The first and second capture the art of “”Chum Bon I,” the third section displays a more musical theme by Japanese instrumentalist, while the final fourth and fifth segments focus on the final “Chum Bon II.”

Anyone interested in the art of traditional movement and the development of dance is bound to enjoy this piece.

Tickets range from 20,000 to 30,000 won.