Re-Imagining Traditional Performing Arts
Traditionally, Korean performing arts are highly multidisciplinary affairs—weaving elements of theatre and ritual with dance, music and song, punctuated by plenty of drumming. Second Sleep Stage Creations aims to recreate the dynamism and eclecticism of this performance tradition.
The founding members—Charles Hong, Joo Hyung Kim, and Soojung Kwon—represent three key elements of Korean performing arts: drumming, music, and dance.
We have enjoyed productive individual careers as composers, choreographers, and performers; but, we have frequently called upon each other to collaborate on many projects. Highlights include several CanAsian International Dance Festival projects, six performances at the Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Series, as well as many touring engagements. We have also collaborated on all-night performance projects at Nuit Blanche Toronto in 2012, 2014, and 2018.
It was at the 2018 Nuit Blanche project we realized that the time was ripe to join forces and convert our long history of collaborations into a closer, more formal and sustained creative relationship—soon after, Second Sleep Stage Creations was born.
We three insomniacs, often struck by inspiration at odd times of the night, are committed to creating new and innovative expressions of Korean music and dance, rooted in the traditional practices of Korean court, shaman, and folk performing arts.
We make up the core artistic team, but we will draw upon our creative network, mobilizing talented artists from all disciplines to realize our artistic vision.
Excited by the creative possibilities afforded by the latest digital, audio, and media arts tools, we are committed to harnessing these technologies to expand the artistic boundaries of traditional practices.
Two Performance Series
To bring our artistic vision to the public, we present productions that fall into two categories:
The Salon Series, dedicated to presenting "chamber" works in intimate venues.
The Marquee Series, featuring larger-scale multi-disciplinary spectacles.
Charles Hong | Percussion Specialist | Artistic Direction
Charles Hong is a composer, educator, and performer. He specializes in traditional Korean drumming practices. From 1992 to 1996, he apprenticed under master drummer Kim Duk Soo, of the world renowned group SamulNori.
He is the Artistic Director of Ensemble Jeng Yi, a Korean drum and dance troupe he founded in 1998. He has composed many pieces for traditional percussion ensemble as well as for traditional string and wind instruments, and music for dance works.
Charles Hong, along with co-founder Joo Hyung Kim, won the 2008 Dora award for Outstanding Sound Design/ Composition in the dance category for their work on Soojung Kwon's dance work Choonengmu.
Joo Hyung Kim | Music Specialist
Joo Hyung Kim is an accomplished performer of the Kayagum, the traditional Korean zither. Born in Korea, she began her traditional Korean music training at the age of six. She majored in traditional Korean music at Kyung Buk University, and completed her M.A. in traditional music at Sook Myung University. She immigrated to Canada in 2005 and has been an active performer and composer.
Ms Kim has collaborated with Charles Hong as well as his Korean performing arts troupe Ensemble Jeng Yi on many touring engagements and projects.
Soojung Kwon | Dance Specialist
Soojung Kwon was born in Seoul, South Korea and has been dancing since the age of four. She immigrated to Toronto in 1990 and continued to dance in Canada. She was a member of the Mi Young Kim Dance Company for eleven years from 1991 to 2002. In 2002 she embarked on a solo career as a dancer and choreographer, exploring new expressions of Korean dance.
In 2003, she returned to Seoul, South Korea and trained for 5 months under renowned choreographer Ms. Mae Ja Kim at her Changmu Institute. During her time in Korea Ms. Kwon also studied more traditional dance styles with Ms. Sun Mi Kim and Ms. Hyo Suk Lee.