Latest news with #KoreanNationalBallet
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Ballet Festival Korea welcomes season of connection and legacy
Following Johan Inger double bill, the festival continues with rich lineup of performances through May-June As late spring melts into early summer, Seoul once again turns to ballet to usher in the season with elegance and power. The 15th edition of Ballet Festival Korea kicked off on May 9, with a double bell from the newly established Seoul Metropolitan Ballet — "Walking Mad" and "Bliss" — by acclaimed Swedish choreographer Johan Inger, running through Sunday. This year's program under the theme of connection, brings together 12 dance companies for 26 performances and five accompanying events, ranging from artist talks to outreach programs. This edition also marks the first festival under the artistic direction of Kim Joo-won, a former principal ballerina with the Korean National Ballet and a 2006 recipient of the prestigious Benois de la Danse. Appointed last October as both director and artistic head of the festival committee, Kim shared her vision during a recent press conference at the Seoul Arts Center. 'This festival is an opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of Korean ballet.' One of the festival's centerpiece events is "ConneXion" with Choi Tae-ji and Julia Moon at CJ Towol Theater in Seoul, May 28. The performance honors two trailblazers of Korean ballet -- former Korean National Ballet artistic director Choi and Universal Ballet director Moon -- and retraces their artistic legacies through tribute performances by KNB and Universal Ballet dancers. 'People used to call us rivals,' Choi said. 'But in truth, we were colleagues who shared our hopes and concerns for ballet. The growth of the Korean National Ballet was made possible in large part thanks to Universal Ballet's presence.' A highlight of this year's lineup is the participation of three regional companies. Following Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's opening, Gwangju City Ballet and Busan Opera House Ballet will also take the stage. Gwangju City Ballet, with a 49-year history, will present "Coppelia" on May 31 at the CJ Towol Theater. The romantic comedy ballet has been rechoreographed by artistic director Park Kyung-sook in previous stagings in 1997 and 2002. This marks the first full-length performance of "Coppelia" in Seoul in 30 years, since Universal Ballet's production in 1995. On June 4, Busan Opera House Ballet will present "Shining Wave," a contemporary piece choreographed by Park So-yeon and inspired by the sea and whales of Busan. Also at CJ Towol Theater, Ryu Hoi-woong's "Life of Ballerino: Dreamer" will be performed June 7-8, featuring male ballet dancers from Mnet's dance competition "Stage Fighter," including Kang Kyung-ho. The piece highlights the physicality and artistic journey of male dancers in a traditionally female-dominated field. From June 13 to 15, Universal Ballet returns with "The Love of Chunhyang," choreographed by artistic director Liu Bing-xian. Since its premiere in 2007, this ballet adaptation of the classic Korean folktale has become one of the company's signature works. Meanwhile, the small Jayu Theater will feature six emerging choreographers and companies selected through an open national call. These works will be presented in three double bills: Paik Yon Ballet Project Y's "The Path to Beauty 2.0" and Aham Art Project's "Waiting for Godot" on June 12-13, Dastanz' "123.45MHz" and Seo Gibum MuTanz Project's "The Room" on June 17-18, and finally Movement momm's "The Earth" and Project Cloud Nine's "Heart of the Wild" on June 21-22.
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.
Korea Herald
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Heo Nanseolheon's timeless poetry lives on in new contemporary ballet work
Contemporary ballet 'Heo Nan Seol Heon' at Gangneung Arts Center this week Heo Nanseolheon (1563–1589), whose real name was Heo Cho-hui, is a beloved figure in Korean poetry. She left behind more than 200 timeless poems. Her works, however, emerged from the harsh realities of a tragic life lived in an era when women's talents were often overlooked. She lived a life marked by neglect from her husband, the fall from grace of her family and the sorrow of losing two children in infancy. A recent artistic adaptation of Heo's legacy is the Korean National Ballet's contemporary piece "Heo Nan Seol Heon: Su Wol Kyung Hwa," choreographed by its soloist Kang Hyo-hyung. The performance will be staged at the Gangneung Arts Center in Gangwon Province, Heo's hometown, from Friday to Sunday this week. The ballet brings two of Heo's most treasured poems, "Gamu" and "Mongyu-Gwangsangsan," to life through dance. Exploring themes of nature, loss and beauty, the choreography transforms Heo's lyrical works into a poignant aesthetic performance that highlights the profound emotional landscapes of her poetry. Ballet with Korean aesthetics Bringing literature to the stage with a unique blend of ballet and Korean elements, Kang, who choreographed this piece in 2017, described it as a work that fuses abstract imagery with the powerful emotions embedded in Heo's verses. Heo's poetry is rich in imagery -- nature, birds, lotus flowers, orchids and the ocean, all of which were Heo's favorite subjects. "For example, in the case of orchids, there are movements that express scenes reminiscent of an ink painting of orchids on a folding screen. There are also arm movements that evoke the image of a bird in flight," said Kang in an interview with The Korea Herald on Monday. Typically, classical ballet emphasizes an upright upper body and a seemingly breathless posture. But to evoke Korean aesthetics and nature, Kang incorporated the curves of the arms and back in flowing movements reminiscent of autumn leaves and ocean waves. "Each scene has movements designed to express the imagery of nature, especially through upper body movements. I've focused on accentuating these details with body contractions, adding breath to create fluid, free-flowing arm and back movements." While the piece is a contemporary formulation of abstract imagery, it follows an arc that reflects the different stages of Heo's life -- her 'fragrant' early years, 'withered' middle and later years, where 'the flower falls.' The verse 'Twenty-seven red confederate rose petals fall' in "Mongyu-Gwangsangsan," or "Roaming Around Gwangsangsan in a Dream," from 1585, is believed to be a work foreseeing her death. She died in 1589 at the age of 27. "In her poetry, Heo often drew from her own life experiences. So her works reflect the emotions and events of her life," said Kang. "When you read the poems through the lens of Heo's life, you can still feel the story embedded within them. So I usually tell dancers to focus on the overarching emotional arcs within the poem -- such as the feelings of a blooming flower or the fleeting emotion as it withers." Growing as choreographer Kang's trajectory as a choreographer has been steady, supported by the KNB Movement series, an initiative designed to nurture new choreographic talent within the company. Since debuting as a choreographer in 2015, Kang has made remarkable strides, carving a path she had long envisioned. Her debut work "Into the Pulse" received praise in Korea and abroad, earning her a nomination at the prestigious Benois de la Danse in 2017. She also created the full-length piece "Hoi Rang" in 2019. 'It's been almost 10 years since I began choreographing,' Kang said. 'At first, I created without hesitation or fear. Now, I focus on ensuring that the message I want to convey is clear. I would like my work to linger on, not to be forgotten the moment the curtain closes."
