Each part of the performance offers unique choreography, costumes, music and narrative, creating a multi-layered mosaic of emotions and meanings. The Fool (Imae), the Old Woman (Halmi), the Leper (Mundung), the Monk (Mokjung), the Servant (Maltukki) and the Nobleman (Yangban) come together on one stage - characters from different social and cultural strata, whose presence becomes a reflection of our contemporary relationships and challenges. Although the characters derive from ancient rituals, their stories and conflicts sound surprisingly current.

"Masquerade" is an open-ended performance that actively engages the audience, inviting them to create a space of dialogue together. The slogan "differences dance together" takes on a literal meaning here - the performance culminates in an energetic finale, in which the audience joins the artists on stage.

The performance is also a very open and open performance.

"The word "talchum" comes from "tal" (mask) and "chum" (dance), which literally means "dancing in a mask".Talchum performances combine elements of theater, dance, music and social satire, and are colorful and expressive - dancers play characters of people, animals and even supernatural beings. They often present stories from everyday life, mocking the hypocrisy of the elite, class inequality or religious hypocrisy.

Talchum does not require a stage - it can be staged anywhere, making it a play close to the people.

Interestingly, the audience not only watches, but actively participates in the performance, responding with laughter, shouts and comments.

The Greatest Mask is one of Korea's most respected performing arts groups. The troupe has gained widespread recognition for its traditional performances and innovative adaptations of classic works using Talchum's rich expressive techniques. Huh Chang-Yeol, director of The Greatest Masque, received the award for Best Dance Performance at the 11th Edaily Culture Awards in November 2024.

THE GREATEST MASK

MASKARADA - Korean dance-mask drama

Dancers: Changyeol Heo, Juwon Lee, Insun Park, Jihoon Kim, Haesol Jang, Minwoo Choi, Jeongdong Lee, Sieun Kim, Hisu Park, Byungho Son

Musicians:

Daegeum (Korean bamboo flute), Yanggeum (Korean cymbal) - Aram Lee

Janggu (Korean double-sided drum) - Si Young Sung

Piri (Korean reed flute) - Inhwana Choi

Contrabass - Inhwana Choi

On July 29, a talchum workshop will be held at the Polish Dance Theater.

11.00 am - open to any person, including children

7.00 pm - workshops for professional dancers

6.00 pm - workshop for professional dancers and theater artists

Participants of the 2-hour workshop at 6 pm will have the opportunity to learn:

Yangju Byeolsandae Nori (60 min.)
Traditional Korean mask dance-drama originating from Yangju, a city north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province. Known for its expressive masks and satirical characters, it reflects the humor, social criticism and community spirit of traditional Korean performing arts.

Bongsan Talchum (60 min.)
Traditional Korean mask dance from Bongsan (now in Hwanghae Province, North Korea), known for its energetic movements, humorous dialogues and sharp social satire. It is one of the most representative forms of Korean masked dance-drama (Talchum), emphasizing community participation and criticism of social hierarchy.

The class will be led by dancers from THE GREATEST MASK group.

Tickets for the performance and workshops can be purchased at the headquarters of the Polish Dance Theater, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, and online at tickets24.pl.