Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy

Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 1980 to preserve and share the vibrant art of Korean traditional dance and music. The Academy welcomes people of all ages (4+ years), gender, and ethnicity who wish to learn about the richness of Korean culture. As a disciple of Korea’s Human National Treasure, Ms. Han Young Sook, Ms. Kim passes on rigorous, foundational training to preserve Korean traditional dance and music in its purest form―without the dilution of modern influences. The Academy covers a broad repertory of dance and music originating from various eras of Korean history―with the oldest dance dating back to the Three Kingdoms of Korea during the 1st through 6th century AD. Students are not only trained in choreography and music, but also in Korean history and culture. Under the steadfast leadership of Founder and Executive Director Ms. Eung Hwa Kim, the Academy is the premier Korean traditional dance and music institution serving Southern California for over 40 years. The Academy provides comprehensive education and training, and fosters cultural awareness and community outreach through performances and workshops. Notable performances include the 1984 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles; 1994 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony representing the Republic of Korea; and U.S. presidential election campaigns representing the Korean-American community.

KIM EUNG HWA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ms. Eung Hwa Kim is the Founder of the Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy and serves as the Executive and Artistic Director. Ms. Kim began her formal training under Korean National Human Treasure Ms. Han Young Sook at the age of 5, and mastered Korean traditional dance, musical instruments, and byung chang (operatic storytelling tradition). She was a dance company member of Little Angels Children's Folk Dance Company and performed at the 1970 Osaka Expo. Subsequently, she became a dance company member with the Korean National Dance Company, and performed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and completed a 4-month tour across 52 countries in Europe and Asia. Ms. Kim received the Lester Horton Dance Awards (2008) and was recognized for her 40+ years of service excellence with the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Award of Service (2016) and the City of Los Angeles Resolution Certificate (2017). Ms. Kim received a B.A. in Korean Traditional Dance and Dance Education from Joong-Ang University in Seoul, Korea and serves as the Chairwoman of the Han Young Sook Preservation Society. In 2014, she was designated as an Overseas Honorary Successor for her work to promote and disseminate Korean traditional dance and music abroad. And in 2016, Ms. Kim was bestowed the honor to preserve and disseminate Important Cultural Intangible Asset No. 27―Seung Mu (Monk Dance) by the Republic of Korea Cultural Heritage Administration.