The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understandingt of Bae Gu-ja by reconstructing her early work The Death of Swan. First, the contents behind the records of the era were identified through the examination of photo materials and newspaper articles in which Bae Gu-ja appeared. Then, various data related to Bae Gu-ja were collected in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the world of her dance. Lastly, Bae Gu-ja’s The Death of Swan was reconstructed to induce an inner experience, felt in the body. This is a process of empathizing with what Bae Gu-ja must have felt while performing The Death of Swan.

The Death of Swan is an artwork in which Bae Gu-ja attempted to project herself and to express her inner self through a dying swan. While reconstructing and rewriting the performance, it was possible to reinterpret it and empathize with Bae Gu-ja’s experience. Furthermore, it also allows for the possibility of various interpretations of history, enabling a more open discussion. The objective of this study is to contribute to the Korean dance history description method by conducting a new type of historical research, and to highlight the need to conduct more diverse research.