Kiran Paek’s mission as a former dancer is to introduce the beauty of Korean Culture to the communities. A former Plainsboro resident Paek formed the Princeton Korean Dance Troupe based at the Princeton Korean Presbyterian Church (located in the First Presbyterian Church in Plainsboro) in 1994. ##M:[more]##
The group will celebrate its 13th anniversary Saturday, June 2, at 7 p.m. at Mackay Auditorium, Princeton Theological Seminary with a performance of “Ulsoo Hammahdhang. The event is free but free will donations will be accepted to benefit the Chengdu Loving China Rehabilitation Hospital in Sung City, Sa-Chun-Sung, China.
“I am actively teaching Korean Dance now, and using all of my energy to prepare for this event,” she says. “One of the projects for my dance troupe is sending troupe members to the Sung City hospital for a short missionary trip in 2008.”
“Our organization consists of dedicated members and parents who are willing to volunteer their time and talents in the service of surrounding communities,” she says. “Presently, 21 members dedicate their time and talents to introduce Korean dances to the communities.” Since its founding the troupe has seen more than 10 graduates and some 20 members serve part of their junior and senior high school years.
High School South students include Kevin Lee, Andy Cheon, Esther Park, Veronica Kim, Annie Park, Gloria Lee, Younah Bark, Grace Lee, Paul Lee, Joae Hoon Moon, Christina Park, Julia Park, and David Ryoo. High School North students include Yuri Kim, Caroline Lee, and Justine Han. Grover Middle School students include Sharon Ryoo and June Park.
Paek, born in Incheon, South Korea, received a bachelor in fine arts degree as a modern dance major at Sejong University in Seoul, Korea. In 1983 she came to United States to study modern dance at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. After receiving her master’s degree from Tisch, she joined a professional dance company.
In 1988 she married Dan Paek. The family moved from Bayside, Queens, to Plainsboro in 1993 because of her husband’s job. “I had to change my professional job because I didn’t know how to balance between being a dancer performing in New York and raising young children in New Jersey,” she says.
After living in Plainsboro for seven years, the family moved to Lawrenceville. Her children include Jonathan Samyul, 18, a senior in Lawrence High School, who will go to Rutgers in the fall; Sammi, 14, a student at Lawrence Middle School, Yoyul, 13, a student at the American Boychoir School in Princeton, and Donyul, 8, a student at Slackwood Elementary in Lawrenceville. Jonathan Samyul and Sammi are current members of Princeton Korean Dance Troupe and they will perform for the event. Dan, now serving as choir conductor for the Princeton Korean Presbyterian Church as choir conductor, also runs the Kumon Center in Lawrenceville.
A certified Montessori teacher she has worked in Princeton Montessori School for 12 years. “Meanwhile I will try to reach my dream which is running a Montessori school,” she says. She is planning on opening the Lawrence Montessori School in Lawrenceville in the fall.
Dance classes are held at the Plainsboro location every Saturday. Although the girls troupe is filled, there are spaces for the boys dance troupe. There will be a registration information at the event or call Paek at 609-851-5777. — Lynn Miller
Ulsoo Hanmahdhang, Princeton Korean Dance Troupe, Princeton Theological Seminary, Mackay Auditorium, Princeton, 609-656-7724. Saturday, June 2, 7 p.m.
