The namsadang is a Korean itinerant troupe which consists of male performers who present various performing arts such as acrobatics, singing, dancing and playing like a circus. It is said that namsadang was spontaneously formed during the Joseon Dynasty and used to wander about marketplaces and villages.
'Baudeogi' was a woman who, after becoming kkoktusoe or the chief of namsadang as a woman in the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty for the first time in the nation, led the namsadang troupe. The Anseong Namsadang troupe led by Baudeogi became well-known all over the country thereafter. Baudeogi toured the country promoting the humble performance called namsadang to a level of popular performance culture to comfort the oppressed people.

Kkokdusoe (troupe leader)

Responsible for supporting his or her fellow members.

Golbaengisoe

The second highest ranking member. Responsible for getting a permission from the leader of the village in order to present their talents.

Tteunsoe (a leading performer)

The head of each performance or senior performer

Yeonhija (piri)

Apprentices who just started learning acrobatics under tteunsoe, running errands. Also called piri.

Deungjimgun

Porters carrying instruments and equipment.

Six performances of namsadang

The six performances which the troupe performs are collectively called Namsadang nori, literally meaning nori performed by namsadng. The namsadang nori includes pungmul nories, beona nori, salpan, eoreum, deotboegi, and deolmi. All six nori are associated with each other and integrate various activities such as music, feat, acrobatics, stunt, play, dance, and mask dance.