<Somewhere Between Islands>

An island enclosed by the sea. Those raised on the island leave their isolated homes behind for the mainland, while those wounded by the world seek refuge and solace within the island's shores. An island is at once sequestered and vibrant. The tales passed down by word of mouth through generations living on these islands emerge into the world through <Somewhere Between Islands>.

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Though appearing severed from the world, islands are fundamentally bound together by the ocean. United across distances great and small, they connect and commune in every way imaginable. Isolated within our own islands, we become one through <Somewhere Between Islands>; brought together as a whole, artists and audiences share a profound sense of unity through music and dance.

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Korean gut (shamanic ritual) is a comprehensive art form where diverse cultural elements—narrative poetry, music, movement, culinary offerings, and formal aesthetic structure—converge. In particular, Gyeonggi Dodanggut stands out as one of Korea’s most celebrated hereditary shamanic rituals (seseupmu), renowned for its extraordinary artistic refinement. Shamanic artists of hereditary lineages have cultivated this artistry by mastering the dances and songs handed down through generations, honing their own virtuosity, and passing it forward to the next. Built upon this rich artistic heritage, <Somewhere Between Islands> was conceived to convey the ritual's timeless messages of prayer, blessing, and hope.