The twentieth century Korean dance landscape began in a state of near eradication following perennial unrest that spanned a thirty-five year Japanese Annexation, the Korean War, and eighteen years of dictatorial rule by President Park Chung-hee. However, despite these years of turmoil, oppression, censorship, poverty, war, and isolation, the last quarter of Korea's twentieth century prompted a dance renaissance. This paper explores the archival modalities used to import Western dance forms and ideals to Korea, the cultural changes in Korea that created an opening for different philosophies and aesthetics in dance, and the new interest in dance scholarship and science, and supposes ideas for Korea's dance future.