A Korean dance performance built from eight traditional forms is crossing the Pacific for the first time, bringing Seoul’s contemporary take on its dance heritage to Washington as the United States marks its 250th anniversary. The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre will perform “Mimesis” Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. at Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., in a special performance hosted by the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. and the Embassy of Korea. The troupe will return Sept. 29 for a roughly 15-minute excerpt at the National Portrait Gallery during a Korean national holiday celebration hosted by the Embassy of Korea. “Mimesis,” which premiered at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in 2025, reimagines eight traditional dances, including Gyobangmu, Hanryangmu, Sogochum, Janggum, Salpuri, Seungmu, shamanic dance and Taepyeongmu. Artistic director and choreographer Yoon Hye-jung has shaped the work around the movement of nature, connecting each dance with elements including water, wind, earth, lightning, sky, fire and light. The production sold out all performances two weeks b