Rand Castile, 78

Rand Castile, Who Opened Doors for Asian Art, Dies at 78
by William Grimes, The New York Times, May 23, 2017

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Interview with Korean dancer-shaman Hi-ah Park

At the initiation ceremony, the minyong was placed leading onto the upstage portion of the house as a bridge between the heaven and the earth. To test my psychic ability and to determine if I could identify the deities who had descended on me, my Godmother and her assistant shaman, who serves as a messenger, sat at the end of the minyong, in a sense ending in heaven. A straw mat was placed downstage. Each question asked by the head shaman was repeated by her assistant. Instead of answering the questions directly, I began dancing. Then, kneeling down on the straw mat, I answered the questions orally. The dance seemed to heighten the trance state so that my answer came without thinking as if I know everything already.

The first question was, “If you become a shaman, through which gate will you enter?”

I started singing in an occult nature, previously unknown to me. Again I danced until possessed and knelt down to wait for the next question.

--Hi-ah Park as interviewed by Lauren W. Deutsch

Read more at:

Meeting With Sanshin:
An Interview with Hiah Park, Lover of the Mountain God
by Lauren W. Deutsch, Kyoto Journal, 1993

Getting uncomfortable with Young Jean Lee

I’ve found that the only way to make theatre that gets the audience thinking is when I feel uncomfortable making it.

--playwright Young Jean Lee

Read more:

Real Gone Girl
Young Jean Lee’s identity plays.
by Hilton Als, The New Yorker, November 4, 2014

Workshop in traditional chant and dance of Korea

Traditional Korean Buddhist Ritual Chant and Dance with Myung Suk Lee

Saturday, June 12 (2-5pm)

This workshop presents a rare opportunity to learn about Korean traditional meditative arts. Master artist Myung Suk Lee, assisted by Nuria Divi, will give an introduction to Bumpae, traditional Korean Buddhist ritual chant and dance. She will teach the Buddhist chant Doryang Ge, and how to play and dance in time to Baras (cymbals).

No experience in dance or singing is necessary to attend this workshop.

Admission: $5

RSVP by email at nuridisa@hotmail.com or walk in on the day of the workshop.

Location: Westbeth Community Room, 155 Bank Street (left side), Manhattan