Bereishit Dance Company pose with USC Kaufman BFA students after teaching a workshop | Photo by Diego Lopez

On February 23, Bereishit Dance Company made their Los Angeles debut at USC’s Bovard Auditorium. Soon after, the company made its way to the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center for masterclasses with BFA students. Founded in Seoul in 2011, the company explores the physical laws of nature, interpreting human history through a physical investigation of various human behaviors and experiences. At this Visions and Voices signature event, Bereishit presented two pieces of repertory — Judo and Balance & Imbalance. Each challenged interpretations of traditional art forms.

By Rhaine Marquardt (BFA ’26)

Introducing Bereishit 

Bereishit — meaning “In the Beginning” — is founded upon creativity within a connected community of athletic artists. With company members from a variety of training backgrounds, Bereishit is a vibrant center for the interaction between multiple artistic disciplines. Park Soon-ho, Founder of Bereishit, shares that contact improvisation is at the heart of the company’s movement generation. Every step is sparked by collaborative movement methodology that evolves into the choreography. As a result of the physically demanding work, bodily awareness has become the cornerstone of the dancers training. Furthermore, a sensitivity to the touch and speed of other dancers is necessary for the optimal execution of the work.

The moment the curtain rises

It all began with a walking pattern. From the moment the lights came up, an impenetrable intensity emanated from the stage. Anticipation rippled through the theater with the simple yet precise movement of the dancers through the space. Suddenly, tranquility was interrupted by the slapping of blazers against the stage floor. Judo had begun. 

Awakening the theater from a watchful trance, the performers fracture the preliminary tension built in the opening of the work. Immediately, they invite viewers into an experience of power coupled with careful agility. Judo — which premiered in 2014 — expresses two distinct human traits: violence and determination. The work is an embodied expression of the relationship between these two ideas as they pertain to the human experience. Partnering one another, it is as if the dancers become one entity, breathtaking and seamless beyond belief. Any preparation for the execution of virtuosic maneuvers is hidden by a veil of strength and trust between bodies. The dancers’ sense of interconnection to their environment extends to the floor, treating the stage with as much care as a fellow performer. No sound is heard as their limbs make contact with the floor. Thus, all attention fixed on the dancers’ supple yet undeniably rigorous movement quality.

Uniting artistic disciplines

Following their performance of Judo, Bereishit graced the stage with their performance of Balance & Imbalance, which first premiered in 2011. Distinct from the heavy undertone of Judo, Balance & Imbalance creates space for multidisciplinary artistic expression. The work incorporates live music and vocals into the composition. Drawing inspiration from traditional Korean stories, vocalist Kim Eun-kyung utilized a combination of song and narration to manipulate the dancers movement. Bringing a jocular essence to the evening’s performance, laughter buzzed through the theater with the performance of Balance & Imbalance. The piece shines a light on the power of cross-disciplinary theater in facilitating relatability with an audience. As such, the performers highlight a lighthearted freedom that is found within the physical embodiment of narrative. 

Bereishit’s emotionality within rigour

Bereishit creates possibility out of the seemingly impossible. Bridging any gaps amidst human, athlete, and dancer, the company members seamlessly transition between risky outburst and serene pedestrian. This contrast between defying gravity and giving into it is what makes Bereishit unique. All the while, the company maintains an emotional intensity as if completely unfazed by the remarkable athletic feats they carry out. Enmeshed within the artistic stunts is an undeniable intention in emotionality that breaks down boundaries between emotion, artistry, and athletic ability. An ocean of intention in every look, every flick of the blazer, every contact made with the floor, makes an audience member unable to divert their focus from the talent on the stage. The result is an amalgamation of innovation, creativity, curiosity, and imagination that fills the theater.