Ko-Ryo Dance Theater's "Arirang - We Go Beyond the Crossroad" Arirang - We Go Beyond the Crossroad Sunhwa Chung stirs up an emotional pot of disorientation and agitation at Dance New Amsterdam. Sunhwa Chung moved to the United States from South Korea in 1994, and in her newest dance, performed by her Ko-Ryo Dance Theater at Dance New Amsterdam on Wednesday evening, she explores ideas about cultural assimilation. How does one hold onto one's roots? What happens if you pull them out completely? In "Arirang - We Go Beyond the Crossroad," which is named after a Korean folk song, Ms. Chung stirs up an emotional pot of disorientation and agitation: this dance, with its frequent spurts of gestures and random changes of direction, is in constant danger of boiling over. Set to a spare composition by the Korean traditional drummer Vongku Pak, the piece opens with a sweet sight nonetheless: Sarang Chung West, 9 years old yet full of self-composure, calmly walks to the center of the stage and performs the title's song on violin. She is the choreographer's daughter. After a lengthy blackout - Ms. Chung's ham-fisted way of transitioning from one section to the next throughout much of the program - three gongs signal a scenic shift. Dancers positioned in different areas of the stage stir like creatures of the night. One wraps her arms around her body and shakes her head from side to side, while another swipes her forehead with her palm. When in doubt, Ms. Chung's choreographic mode of choice seems to be to jab the air. Throughout "Arirang," dancers point a finger and swirl it around; it's the aimless hand jive of contemporary dance sharpened to its narrowest tip. But the more vigorous movement in "Arirang" is familiar and too similar to other works on the program: there is bland, athletic partnering, in which one dancer crashes into the other and is propelled into the air, as well as spinning dips to the floor. Dancers rise and fall like yo-yos. There are also touches of violence; for Ms. Chung, assimilation is full of trauma, which is seen in jerky partnering and outright shoves, as well as in the stricken stares of her cast. Are they terrified or angry? It's hard to know. While Mr. Pak's composition has a pulse, the choreography lacks texture. What would happen if Ms. Chung slowed her movement and gave it some air? As it is now, the music could be switched to a random pop song, and it would hardly change a thing. Intentionally or not, "Arirang" is all about disconnection. Sunhwa Chung/Ko-Ryo Dance Theater continues performances through Saturday at Dance New Amsterdam, 280 Broadway at Chambers Street; (212) 625-8369, dnadance.org.