The Namsadang Nori (남사당놀이) is a type of traditional Korean circus consisting of performers that dance, sing or perform amazing stunts. The performers of Namsadang were usually people of the lower classes. As a result the Namsadang Nori was held in contempt by upper class Koreans. However today, people crowd in numbers to see the Namsadang Nori because the Namsadang Nori is a part of traditional Korean folk culture that was a part of Korean culture and history.

One of the performances of the Namsadan Nori is the Sangmo Nori (상모놀이). The Sangmo Nori is where a performer wears a cap connected to a thin, long white streamer. Without using the hands, the performer must move the streamer in a fluid and effortless manner. If you watch the video below, you’ll see that the performer moves his neck to move the streamer. It’s really quite impressive and I would imagine, difficult as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hcpRVIYZIg&feature=related

Jultagi (줄타기) is a tightrope act where the performer walks to and from the rope without falling to the ground. There is no net below, so if the performer falls, it can end very badly. Usually one arm is used for balance, and the other arm is used to hold a fan. Sometimes the performer will attempt to perform acrobatics on the rope. It takes a lot of coordination, concentration, discipline and practice to perform jultagi.

Deolmi (덜미) is a puppet play. The stories usually involve the oppression of the lower classes, but in a witty, satirical way, using many sexual innuendos. Almost no one is safe from being parodied in the deolmi. The nobles, kings, priests are make their appearance at some point in the play. The fact that even the illiterate could understand the play made this form of entertainment very popular among the lower classes.

Beona Nori (버나놀이) is a form of entertainment where a performer or a group of performers whirl and spin a dish, or flat object with a wooden stick or bar and twirl and toss it in the air. Sometimes the objects are tossed back and forth from one performer to another. Whatever item is being spun must not be dropped to the floor. Sometimes more than one item is spun at the same time.