A Historical Review of the Growth and Development of Dancesport in Korea

한국 댄스스포츠의 성장과 발전에 관한 역사적 고찰

The purpose of this article was to not only review historically the growth and development of dancesport, to but also seek to inform the value and prospect of dancesport in Korea. To achieve the purpose of the paper, the result of this article was framed into four time periods for a historical review of Korean dancesport growth and development: the late 1880s - the mid 1940s, the late 1940s - the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000s onwards. First, the first period was from the late 1880s to the mid 1940s when the nation accepted a social dance and western dance and tradition especially in upper-class Korean society. Second, the second period was from the late 1940s to the late 1980s when social dances (or ballroom dance) were suppressed under the military-based regime. The most likely explanation for this was a tradition that Korea society consider distinction between the sexes as a virtue. Third, third period was the 1990s when the social dance (ballroom dance) was developed officially into dancesport. Actually, the 1990s saw the sport built up a positive image while a negative image was portrayed by the military-based government. Fourth, the fourth period was the 2000s onwards when the sport has been developed as a sport and culture in a sound and systematic manner. Indeed, the sport has come to meet the public tastes.

본 연구는 댄스스포츠의 성장과 발전사를 역사적인 관점에서 보는 것만이 아니라, 댄스스포츠가 한국사회에서 가지는 역할 및 가치를 파악하고 나아가 성장 및 발전가능성에 대해 조망해보는 데 목적이 있다. 본 본연구의 목적을 달성하기 위하여 한국댄스스포츠역사의 핵심적 맥락에 역점을 두고 4가지로 시기를 분류하였다: 1880년대 후반 - 1940년대 중반, 1940년대 후반 - 1980년대 후반, 1990년대, 2000년대. 첫째, 1880년대 후반 댄스스포츠는 한국사회의 일부계층(상류층)에 의해 사교댄스로 도입되었다. 둘째, 1940년을 중반 이후, 남녀가 유별난 유교문화를 가진 한국사회의 시대적 배경을 바탕으로 사회악으로 낙인찍힌 댄스는 당시 군부정권에 의해 무차별 탄압을 받게 되었다. 셋째, 1990년에 들어서 댄스스포츠는 관련 법 개정을 시작으로 사회 다방면에서 발전하기 시작하였다. 넷째, 2000년대를 지나며 댄스스포츠는 하나의 스포츠와 문화로써 인정받으며 우리 한국사회에 자리 잡게 되었다.