Interview: The dance, the company are 'truly one of a kind,' says BNE dancer Youn Sou-jung
When Youn Sou-jung first stepped into the audition room for the Ballet Nacional de Espana, artistic director Ruben Olmo knew immediately that she was special.
'I fell in love. She has her own magnificent style. She's one of the proud dancers of our company,' said Olmo during Monday's press conference for "Afanador."
And for Youn, it was her dream come true, now a member of the corps de ballet, who started dancing at the age of three.
"Since I was young, it was my dream to join BNE. I used to watch their performances and think, 'I have to be part of that one day,'' said Youn in a separate interview with The Korea Herald following the press event.
'But I never believed it would happen. This is a company with a story, and here, dancers can fully dedicate themselves to dance.'
Born in South Korea in 1994 and raised in Spain from the age of seven months, Youn became the first Asian dancer to join the Ballet Nacional de Espana in 2019. The company is celebrated for its preservation and reinterpretation of traditional Spanish dance, and Youn remains one of only two non-Spanish dancers in the ensemble.
Now in her sixth year with the company, Youn sees her relationship with dance stretching back a lifetime, and she sees no separation between the two.
She first encountered flamenco and other forms of Spanish dance in after-school classes. It wasn't long before she knew she wanted to pursue it professionally.
'It's my life. It's who I am. Dance has always been with me. I never questioned it. And from the beginning, it wasn't just about wanting to be a dancer -- it was about wanting to dance Spanish dance specifically.'
At the BNE, dancers are expected to master a wide range of traditional forms, from flamenco to escuela bolera, a Spanish dance style that originated as a fusion of popular Spanish dances, ballet and other influences.
'What attracts me most is that you're always learning. Expressing emotions through movement -- it relieves stress. I love how my whole body is involved, from stamping feet to rhythmic phrasing. It's cathartic and exhilarating.'
Youn takes pride in representing a company she calls 'truly one of a kind.'
'We are the only national dance company in the world dedicated to traditional Spanish dance of all kinds. That's our biggest strength,' she said. 'Wherever we perform, the response is incredible. The rhythm, the passion -- people really connect with it. Our works elevate traditional dance into something refined and artistic.'
Youn is currently in Seoul to perform "Afanador" with the company on Wednesday and Thursday. She described it as 'unlike anything the company has done before -- from the stage design to the lighting, costumes and movement.'
'I'm truly delighted to be performing in Korea with the company,' Youn said. 'Korean audiences are familiar with traditional flamenco, but this production offers something new -- a fresh perspective, a different flavor. I hope it becomes a memorable experience for everyone.'
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