0340 - Korean Dance and Drum class
Course Description
Korean Dance and Drum class
Sundays, July 19 - August 23, 2026 (6 Sessions)
2:30pm - 4:00pm
UH Manoa Music Department 116.
Fee = $75.00
This class is an introduction to the more traditional dances & drum sequences of Korea as preserved in the Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio. This studio celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025. Students will be taught some basic dances as well as experience playing on percussion instruments such as sogo, janggo and buk.
No experience necessary; all ages welcome.
Mary Jo Freshley took her first Korean dance class here at the University of Hawai’i in 1962 which was taught by the late Halla Huhm. She then went to Halla Huhm’s studio and began assisting in 1974. Ms. Freshley has performed in all major studio recitals, has studied in Korea at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, as well as participated in four Samulnori festivals in Korea. In May 2024 the Halla Huhm Studio was part of a series of performances at the National Gugak Center which featured legacies of 100 years, going back to Halla Huhm’s teacher, Bae Ku-ja. There have been many changes in what was once called “traditional” Korean dance, but these dances are worth saving as they reflect the history of the country.
Kyungsook Hyun has been a student at Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio under Mary Jo Freshley since 1984. She teaches classes at Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio when Ms. Freshley travels to mainland and teaches a beginner class on Saturdays. She is versed in Traditional Korean Dance: court dance, folk style dance, percussion instruments such as sogo (small hand drum), janggo (hour glass shaped drum) and buk (standing & carrying drum), Gayageum (12 string Korean traditional zither): folk songs & sanjo (solo piece).