Korean Culture Center- Urisawe Inc. is an organization dedicated to promoting and cultivating Korean cultural awareness through performing arts. Founded in 2002 by Me Sook Ko, Urisawe has participated in numerous performances and community events in the San Francisco bay area to share the beauty of the traditional Korean dance and music. Urisawe offers many classes to welcome anyone who seeks to learn and share traditional Korean dance and music as well as actively engage in the community to reach out to the public at large.
한국문화원 우리사위는 베이지역에서 활동중이신 우리전통문화 기능인 고미숙씨를 중심으로 2002년 모임을 시작한 한인단체입니다. 그동안 수많은 공연참여, 후배양성등 활발한 활동으로 이 지역을 대표하는 한인전통문화단체로 발전해나가고 있습니다.한국 전통문화(고전춤,탈춤,풍물,사물놀이등)에 관심이 있으시거나 기능이 있으신 모든 분들의 참여를 기다립니다.
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Me Sook Ko- Executive Director
South Korea
- 1986-1998 Received instruction in "Bong San" Mask Dance and "Kang Ryeong" Mask Dance
- 1987 Received Master Level instruction in Han Young Sook's Style of “Salpuri" from Master Kim Kyung Sook
- 1987-1990 Received instruction in Jeolla-do Jwado Jung Pyung Gut, Iri Udo Gut, Miryang “Bum Boo” dance, “Obuk Nori” drum dance
- 1987 Received instruction and certificate in "Gosung Ogwangdae" Mask Dance
- 1989 Received Master Level instruction in Han Young Sook's Style of "Seung Moo" dance from
- 1990-1998 Received Certificate in “Gosung Ogwangdae” ("Moon-doong-buk-choom", "Mal-Dduki-choom", "Yang-ban-choom", "Seung-moo-choom")
- 1998 Received Master Level status for “Gosung Ogwangdae”, Intangible Cultrual Asset Number 7
Teaching Experience
- 1988-1994 Instructor for Bong Chun Nori Madang Dance Troupe Urisawe- South Korea
- 1993 Instructor for a student organization at Ewha Women’s University - South Korea
- 1996-2007 Instructor at the Korean Youth Cultural Center (KYCC) - Oakland, CA
- 2003- 2007 Guest Teacher at the National Pungmul Network Camp for “Gosung Ogwangdae” Mask Dance - Baltimore, MD
- 2004, 2007 Instructor for Pungmul, Mask Dance, and Korean Folk Song at Silicon Valley Korean School - Milpitas, CA
- 2005 Instructor for Class of Korean Folk Song and Korean Traditional Dance at Senior social Center of Milpitas – Milpitas, CA
- 2006 Feb. Instructor at Class of Korean Folk Dance at M.I.T. - Boston, MA
- 2006 Aug. Instructor for “Gosung Ogwangdae” Mask Dance Invitation Workshop at Stanford University, CA “Gosung Ogwangdae” Mask Dance Workshop at San Francisco Asian Museum, CA
Present
- Executive Director of Korean Culture Center- Urisawe Inc.
- Instructor for Korean Traditional Dance and Drum at San Jose Korean American Community Service
- Instructor for Korean Traditional Dance and Drum at New Vision Church Korean School
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Korean Culture Center- Urisawe Performances
2006
Feb. 4-5 Korean Mask Dancing (Talchum) and Poongmool workshop at MIT (Kresge Hall) Feb. 7 Korean Mask Dancing (Talchum) at Stanford University
Sep. 7-13 Talchum workshop at San Francisco Asian Art Museum for the Korean cultural month celebrating Chuseok
Nov. 18 Poongmool and Minyo at the First East bay Korean Immigrant Festival
Dec. 3 Salpuri at the end of the year festival held by Northern California Buddhist Association
2007
Aug. 16 Salpuri at the San Francisco Korean Day Festival at Union Square
Aug. 27 Salpuri at the Korean Day held in Sacramento
Dec. 15 Samulnori at the Peace & Glory Night, Celebrate Korea in Stockton
2008
Apr. 5 Gayageum concerto, Sanjo choom and Bhuk choom at the Korean Heritage Concerts in North Minster Presbyterian Church in Salinas
May. 9 Geommu, Bhuk Choom and Poongmool at the Korean Culture Night held by Stanford University Korean Student Association
May. 16 Geommu at the Department of Defense in Monterey, CA for its Language Day
Jun. 26 Invited instructor for Gosung Ogwangdae and Modeum Bhuk at National Poongmool Network, Hanpan in Baltimore, MD
Aug. 16 Geommu, Poongmool, Suljangoo at the San Francisco Korean Day Festival in Union Square Sep. 13 Seungmu at the Maryland Korean Day in Baltimore City Hall
Sept. 27-The First Fall Gilnori
Oct.12 Samulnori and Poongmool at the Shimtuh for Domestic Violence Awareness fundraising
Nov. 1 Fan dance at the Department of Defense in Monterey, Hiatt Hotel
Nov. 8 Fan dance, Jangoo dance, Samgomu at the California penitentiary for The Coalition for Cultural Awareness, Peace Day
Dec. 6 Jangoo dance, Samulnori and Suljangoo at the first Traditional Arts Festival held by San Jose Community Development, Social and Educational Services
2009
Feb. 20 Samgomu and Samulnori at International Day held by De Anza Elementary School
Feb. 28 Samgomu, Scarf dance and Samulnori at the “Oori Concert” for Ahn Joong Geun Martyr Statue Fundraiser
Mar. 11 Held Talchum workshop for University of California Berkeley Korean students and Ego
May. 23 Salpuri and Samulnori at the Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration held by Mountain View City Hall
Jun. 25-26 Jangoo dance and Scarf dance at the Korean War Veteran Commemoration Day, Sunnyvale Community Center
Oct. 10 Jangoo dance at the San Jose Children Moon Festival