On January 20, 2012, the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) held the 2nd annual Korean Lunar New Year Festival in the auditorium. With the motive to represent the Korean culture and traditions to the school, the LACES Korean Parent Organization (KPO), Ms. Kim, the LACES Korean Teacher, and the students, organized this particular event.
Along with the LACES performers, there were other Korean students from different schools who came both to perform their Korean cultural skills and to watch the entire event. Samulnori, Taekwondo, Gum Mu, and traditional Korean songs were the four set performances.
Everyone had the opportunity to see these unique aspects of the Korean culture, activities, and customs ranging from the Hanbok clothing, instruments, martial arts, dances, and the music. “The performances were really interesting and amazing!” Joey Grotts, a LACES senior, exclaimed. After the performance, one of the KPO parents, Lee, remarked about the effort and practice that she was able to easily recognize by the five girls who performed in the Gum Mu, or traditional Korean Sword Dancing.
The LACES administrators, teachers, staffs, and students were exposed to these various Korean traditions and practices and learned about the Korean history behind each of the performances. Not only were the Korean students at LACES able to represent, express, and share their ethnicity with pride, but the non-Koreans who were also part of the audience, were quite amazed. “Everyone did a great job today. We hope we can continue this Korean Lunar New Year Festival annually in the future,” Ms. Hwang, the LACES counselor, stated.
