The Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea (Korean: 리틀엔젤스예술단) is a South Korean traditional art and dance troupe made up of elementary and middle school children,[1] founded in 1962 by Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, to project a positive image of South Korea to the world.[2][3] In 1973 they performed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.[4] The group’s dances are based on Korean legends and regional dances, and its costumes on traditional Korean styles. Choral singing by the troupe in many languages is also featured.[5]
The Little Angels are supported financially by the Tongil Group, a South Korean business group associated with the Unification Church, through the Tongil Foundation.[6] The Little Angels are part of the Sunhwa Arts School. School fees are sponsored by Sunhwa Educational Foundation so that any talented girl can apply.[7]
History
Little Angels were established as Daehan Children's Art Troupe on May 5, 1962.[8] It was the time, when South Korea was still recovering from the Korean War. From the very beginning, the mission of the school was to be ambassadors of peace and goodwill,[9] and use creativity to counter the negative image of South Korea at that time, symbolized by famine, poverty, and abandonment, by spreading the 5,000-year-old Korean cultural traditions.[7]
In 1965 permission was granted to establish the Little Angels art school for 720 students and 12 classes.[8]
In 1974, the Little Angels Art Education Center was completed. The newly opened school, called Little Angels School of Arts, accepted 240 pupils. The school was opened by Bo-hi Pak who became the first principal of the school.[8]
In 1975, Sunhwa Academy was founded and Bo-hi Pak was named the first president.[8]
In 1976, Sunhwa Arts High School was accredited and the following year the school was renamed from Little Angels Art School to Sunhwa Art School and Little Angels Troupe become a part of the school with a broader artistic focus.[8]
From 1965 to 1988 they performed over 2000 shows in 40 countries[10] and until 2015 over 7000 shows and 70 foreign tours in 60 countries.[7]
In 1990, they performed in Moscow and the then-Soviet First Lady Raisa Gorbacheva was also a guest.[7]
In May 1998, they performed as part of the cultural diplomacy of the founders in Pyongyang, North Korea. The North Korean leadership subsequently sent a Pyongyang school team to tour South Korea in May 2000.[7]
In 2010, on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, the South Korean government with the Korean War 60th Anniversary Memorial Committee sponsored a Little Angels tour to all countries participating in the 1950 UN appeal for the defense of South Korea.[7] Little Angels started their tour in Norfolk, United States because of ties of the city to General McArthur, who according to officiators turned the momentum of the war.[11] Later that year they traveled to the other 15 nations that had sent troops to support South Korea in the UN force.[12][13]
Repertoire
The repertoire of Little Angels is classical Korean dance, singing, and playing traditional Korean musical instruments.[7]
Chorus – accompanied by their conductor at the piano singing international songs and tunes from Korea.[14]
New Years' Day – since 2021, Choreography Bae Jung-hae, the theme of the Lunar New Year (Seollal) celebration.
Peace Road – since 2020, Choreography Bae Jung-hae, dance promoting Peace, global human family, harmony, and cooperation.
Jinsoe Festival – an adaptation of the traditional Korean dance "Jinsoe Chum” with gwengwaris (small Korean gongs).
Hwageom – dance inspired by the Wonhwa, ladies from the elite class of Hwarang in the Silla Dynasty.
Palace – an adaptation of traditional court dances with hansam (flowing extended sleeves) movements.
Miyal – dance drama of the Miyal story using a fan.
Folk Singing with Gayageum – group performance with gayageum, a musical instrument that originated in the Gaya kingdom and passed on to the Shilla Dynasty.
Moon Festival – performance of the Moon Festival (Ganggangsullae), in Korea symbolizing the defense of the fatherland. Dance Ganggangsullae is listed as UNESCO World Heritage.[15]
Doll Dance – dance inspired by a Korean tradition - a literal doll dance performed on the lunar new year.
Farm Dance – an expression of the farmer’s thanksgiving during the fruitful autumn harvest season.
Warrior’s Dance – inspired by general Kim Yu-sin and the Hwarang order in the 7th century, using a melody of the Ballad of Gyeongbuk Palace.
Travel by Night – dance story from the Korean past, when grandfather carries his granddaughter through the night.
Fan Dance – dance with a fan, which is the symbol of noblesse, a part of Korean tradition.
Drum Dance – rhythmic dance with 6 standing drums symbolizes tensions between body and soul.
Wedding Day – a dance story of a ludicrous wedding in ancient times, when a very young boy is called to take a much older bride.
Hourglass Drum Dance – rhythmic dance with a long, hourglass-shaped drum.
Toy Soldiers – dance of the toy soldiers to the music of the Radetzky March, first performed for Queen Elizabeth II. on November 15, 1971.
Spring Time – dance of spring-time traditions.
The Legend of Chunhyang – puppet-style dance story of the love and fidelity of Korean heroine Chunhyang towards her fiancé.
Mask Dance – dance with masks of various kinds is a traditional part of local cultural festivals of ancient Korea.
Flower Crown Dance – a modern adaptation of Korean traditional court dance.
North America and Japan Tour including participation in the Mexico Olympics Culture & Art Festival (enhanced national prestige)
1968-09-17
1969-02-04
Mexico, United States, Japan
5
North America and Japan Tour including Special Performance for the U.S.A. President Nixon[9] and British Prime MinisterHeath at the request of the President
Special Performance for Mongolia - Korea Cultural Exchange
2011-11-05
2011-11-11
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
65
World Peace Tour Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War to Countries that Dispatched Medical Units during the Korean War, guest chief minister Sheila Dikshit
^"리틀엔젤스예술단". www.littleangels.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-09-30.
^Sewell, Rhonda B. (February 28, 2003). "Korean Culture Takes the Stage". The Blade. p. D11. The colors, sounds, and heritage of South Korea will come alive tonight as the Little Angels, an all-girls Korean folk ballet company, performs in the Ritz Theatre in Tiffin. ... The company was founded in 1962 by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, as a way to project a positive image of the country...
^Moon, Sun Myung (2009). As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen. Gimm-Young Publishers. ISBN978-0-7166-0299-6. page 67. "My plan was to have these seventeen children learn how to dance and then send them out into the world. Many foreigners knew about Korea only as a poor country that had fought a terrible war. I wanted to show them the beautiful dances of Korea so that they would realize that the Korean people are a people of culture."
^Dunning, Jennifer (December 29, 1973). "Dance: The Little Angels; Korean Folk Ballet Presents 31 Children in Intricate Routines and Songs". The New York Times. p. 53.
