HONOLULU (KHON2) — Korean popular culture is taking the world by storm, whether it be bands like BTS or the newest hit move “KPop Demon Hunters” and its hit soundtrack.
A local educator is hoping to peel back the layers of Korean culture and its past, as she looks to continue teaching in her 90s.
For Mary Jo Freshley, a traditional Korean dance instructor dedicated to preserving the culture, knowing history is important.
“I have had students from Korea recently [saying] ‘well you’ve got to create new stuff all of the time, old stuff is no good,’” Freshley said. “And I say, ‘it’s part of your history, it’s part of your history kids. Do you throw away Beethoven music? I don’t think so.’”
She is the director of the Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio, which is the only continuously performing and teaching studio for traditional Korean dance and music since its founding by the late Halla Pai Huhm in 1950.
Additionally, Freshley teaches Korean dance at the University of Hawaiʻi.
“When no one else wanted to teach, the haole lady is the least likely suspect. I’m not the one who should be doing it, it should be a Korean person teaching Korean dance, but when no one is interested, no one has the desire or the time, then I guess I’m the backup person,” she said.
Freshley has danced all of her life, and has enjoyed the many different forms of dance from several cultures in Hawaiʻi. She turns 91 in September, and plans to keep on dancing.
“My knees don’t like moving a lot, bone on bone going on the floor not a pretty picture anymore,” she said. “I’ve learned to accommodate movement to my movement ability. Many of my ladies are in their 60s or 70s, so we have to make some adjustments but as long as we keep trying, I think it’s good for your soul.”
Freshley’s time with Korean dance in Hawaiʻi began in 1962. She will be leading a 75th anniversary concert on Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. at Kaimuki High School, which will include choreography from her dance studio.
“It’s also a social event so some of my ladies have been together for a number of years and so they get to see each other once a week,” Freshley said. “Then we go out and dance sometimes and it’s showing what you learned. That’s what this recital is all about.”