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Korea Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Neumeier's ‘Camellias' to bloom again in Seoul as its ‘best version yet'
Drama ballet that earned Kang Sue-jin her Benois de la Danse premieres in May Legendary choreographer John Neumeier's 'The Lady of the Camellias,' with which ballerina Kang Sue-jin became the first Asian dancer to win the Benois de la Danse award in 1999, will take the stage at the Seoul Arts Center, May 7-11. Neumeier and Kang, artistic director of The Korean National Ballet, have come together to create 'the best possible version of this ballet that we can see right now.' 'Ballet is an art of life,' said Neumeier during a press conference held Tuesday at the Seoul Arts Center. 'I have never imagined I would just revive a work. I must recreate a work for it to have value, for it to have life. Without a living (element), it becomes some kind of moving museum.' Based on Alexandre Dumas fils' 1848 novel of the same title, the ballet tells the tragic love story of Marguerite, a courtesan, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois, set in 19th-century Paris. Premiered in 1978 for the Stuttgart Ballet, Neumeier's 'The Lady of Camellias' sought to break away from traditional narrative ballet structures. 'At that time, I was searching for a new kind of full-length ballet, one that was different from 19th-century works. (The novel) has a sense of overlapping realities, visions and points of view — similar to the technique of modern cinema.' The production by the KNB marks the first time a full-length version of the ballet will be performed by an Asian company. And its arrival in Korea holds particular significance for Kang. ''The Lady of the Camellias' is very special to me. It expresses love, sacrifice and the deep emotions of human nature through the language of ballet,' she said. 'I have truly loved this work, and as artistic director, I have poured my heart into bringing it to the (Korean) stage. I am happy to pass on this ballet, which I have cherished, to the next generation of dancers.' A former principal dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet, Kang has long been immersed in Neumeier's world. During a rehearsal, she stepped in to demonstrate scenes alongside her longtime stage partner Marijn Rademaker. 'During this process, I was surprised to find that the movements and emotions of this piece are still alive in my body, my mind and my heart,' she said. 'It felt as if the moments I once danced on stage were returning to life.' Neumeier praised the commitment of Kang and her company. 'The Korean National Ballet has given complete cooperation, complete understanding and complete desire to realize this work as the best it can be,' he said. His collaboration with the company began last year with 'The Little Mermaid.' That earlier experience, he said, was essential groundwork, because this ballet not only depends on the two main characters but rather on a balance between all of the 10 characters of the piece — all of whom must be technically and emotionally on the same level. 'It was important for me, in working with the Korean National Ballet, to have an experience before 'The Lady of the Camellias.' So that I would be able to know this company better, be able to judge a balance within a cast.' Each rehearsal, for him, is a process of discovery. 'I always find something new — some detail, some truth — which I try to give to the dancers,' he said. 'I am alive, which means every hour, every minute I work with dancers, I discover new truths. I couldn't possibly explain them all to you. There's nothing extraordinary about it, but for me, dance is the living shape of emotion. There is a constant sense of learning and discovering.'
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Neumeier's 'Lady of the Camellias' to make Seoul premiere with Korean National Ballet
Drama ballet that earned Kang Sue-jin's Benois de la Danse arrives in May The Korean National Ballet will present the Korean premiere of John Neumeier's dramatic ballet "Lady of the Camellias" at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House from May 7 to 11. "Lady of the Camellias" is Neumeier's adaptation of Alexandre Dumas fils' 1848 novel of the same title. The ballet, which follows the tragic love story of Marguerite Gautier, a Parisian courtesan stricken with tuberculosis, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois, was first performed by the Stuttgart Ballet in 1978. Known for its poignant portrayal of love and fate, this masterpiece holds special significance for KNB's artistic director Kang Sue-jin. During her career as a dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet, Kang's performance in "Lady of the Camellias" earned her the prestigious Benois de la Danse award in 1999, making her the first Asian recipient of the honor. A distinctive feature of the ballet is its live piano accompaniment on stage, with a score centered around Frederic Chopin's music. The production includes an array of Chopin's evocative and romantic compositions, such as nocturnes, ballads, mazurkas and polonaises, with his piano concertos heightening key emotional moments. One of the ballet's most iconic elements is the three pas de deux between Marguerite and Armand, each symbolizing a different stage of their relationship. The color of Marguerite's dress in each duet reflects the development of their love story. The purple pas de deux, set to Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, captures the moment Marguerite and Armand first fall in love. The white pas de deux, performed to Piano Sonata No. 3 (Largo), portrays their passionate and joyous love. The black pas de deux, set to Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, conveys the intensity of their reunion after separation, portraying emotions of love, betrayal and misunderstanding through dramatic choreography. "Lady of the Camellias" marks KNB's second collaboration with Neumeier, following last year's production of "The Little Mermaid." The company credits Kang's deep understanding of Neumeier's choreographic style — gained from her time at the Stuttgart Ballet — as instrumental in preparing for this production. Neumeier himself will visit Korea twice to oversee casting and personally guide the dancers. The Korean National Ballet will also bring back Neumeier's "The Little Mermaid" for a second run in August.
