Fan Dance
The art of the fan is to join the couple as if they were one
The Fan Dance is a couple dance that is generally slower-paced and performed with one of the partners holding two fans to demonstrate elegance and beauty.
In contemporary Jeongsu Yashida it is the traditionally last dance of the night. It is commonplace in festivals, balls, and other, similar, occasions that involve dance and music performances. The cultural consense assigns a strong romantic connotation to it since it is oftentimes used in matters of courtship as well.
Unlike most dances at social gatherings, the fan dance is not a circle nor row dance, instead the dance partner is permanent throughout the entire set, with focus on the harmony and balance of the couple.
“A truly virtuous dancer unifies temper with grace, lightness with strength, playfulness with reliability, fluidity with determination. Now the art of the fan is to join the couple as if they were one.”The length of the dance is usually set by the number of couples that participate since everyone deserves their time to shine and showcase their abilities. A solo performance usually takes about 2 or 3 minutes whereas it would take about 20 minutes at a ball of decent size.–Shyan Weiyu, The Etiquette and Art of Dance
History
Scholars assume the Fan Dance has its origins from martial arts practice with battle fans since some sequences could be read as attack and defense. Since displays of fights as festival performances were a way to popularise the Yashin military in the conquered kingdoms after the Unification Wars, it is not unlikely that those performances lead to more artistic iterations and later dances with fans in a performative spirit. What is worth noting, though, is that painted paper fans in Jinsu-do and embroidered fans in Suyuan-do had developed into a true art form during the Beulseong period, making those artistic fans desireable items to show off at social events. The general style of the Fan Dance also is more reminiscent of other Suyuan dances in its movements and step sequences.Courtship
The Fan dance is a common component of courtship in the modern day. Not only allows it for longer, undisturbed conversation due to the slower pace, but how one asks for the dance has its own implications as well.“While it is most appropriate to offer one’s fan for the dance, those of romantic interest will ask for the other’s fan instead, and those most coquettish in nature and sure in their pursuit will take it and present their partner with a fait accompli. A couple that misses the last dance together will soon be subject to rumours of an inevitable breakup, no matter how harmonious they act the weeks and months that follow ahead.”–Ban Karath, Travelling the Thousand Bridges – A Cultural Tour Through Nagashihoro
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