"International Dance Star Invitation Performance is a Stage to Confirm the Growth of Korean Ballet"

July 27-28 at Seoul Arts Center 'Overseas Dance Stars Honoring Korea' Invitation Performance
Numerous Overseas Dancers Including Kang Ho-hyun from Paris Opera Ballet Participate

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] "It will be a stage where the growth and development of Korean ballet can be confirmed."

A stage where the skills of young Korean dancers active in world-renowned ballet companies such as the Paris Opera Ballet in France, American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet in the U.S., and the Hungarian National Ballet can be seen all in one place will be prepared. As part of the program for the 10th Korea Ballet Festival, the 'Overseas Dance Stars Invited Performance Shining Korea' will be held on the 27th and 28th at the CJ Towol Theater in the Seoul Arts Center. On the afternoon of the 24th, a press conference was held at Han-guk-ui Jip in Jung-gu, Seoul, with 10 dancers performing in the invited performance and Jo Jooyeon, professor and artistic director of the Korea National University of Arts Dance Department, participating.

Originally, the Overseas Dance Stars Invited Performance of the Korea Ballet Festival is a stage featuring famous overseas dancers together with Korean dancers. However, due to difficulties in the entry of overseas dancers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, the stage will be centered on Korean dancers active in overseas ballet companies. Unlike previous years, the title 'Shining Korea' has also been added.

Artistic Director Jo said, "We started recruiting dancers from January this year, and at that time only Lee Sunwoo (Boston Ballet, USA), Lee Yurim (Hungarian National Ballet), and Jung Gayeon (Joffrey Ballet, USA) were able to participate. Other dancers could not participate due to scheduling conflicts. But due to COVID-19, unlike previous years, the lineup was made up of Korean dancers active overseas."

On the afternoon of the 25th, before the press conference for the 'Overseas Dance Stars Honoring Korea Invitation Performance' held at Hanguk Eojip in Jung-gu, Seoul, Artistic Director Jo Juhyun (sixth from the left) and participating dancers posed for a photo.
Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Han Sungwoo (American Ballet Theatre, USA) and Kang Hohyun (Paris Opera Ballet, France) were unable to participate at the time of recruitment in January, but as their ballet companies' performances were canceled due to COVID-19, they were able to join the invited performance.

Han Sungwoo was selected as a 'Young Star' in 2008 when he was a middle school student and participated in the Overseas Dance Stars Invited Performance. He said, "It feels new to return as an adult and perform. I am preparing hard imagining the audience who are struggling because of COVID-19 watching my dance and feeling happy. Although I feel pressure, I am trying to show a better side."

Han Sungwoo is scheduled to perform the Pas de trois from Le Corsaire together with Lee Yurim and Lee Sunwoo.

Artistic Director Jo said, "There is a very big difference in dance styles between each ballet company. It will be a new experience in this year's performance to see dancers who learned ballet in Korea absorbing the styles of various overseas ballet companies all in one place."

Most of the dancers on stage have not performed domestically for a long time. Imiri, who is freelancing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, will perform in Korea for the first time in 12 years. Imiri, honored to stand on the homeland stage after a long time, will present Void of Text, which she created and premiered in Amsterdam in 2017. Lee Seona, active in the French Le Gette Company, will also perform on the Korean stage for the first time in four years. She said, "I am very happy to come to Korea for the performance," and "I will present a new work called 'UN·COVER' on this stage."

They also did not hesitate to give advice for the development of Korean ballet.

Han Sungwoo said, "I think the level of Korean dancers is very high. Many dancers are on par with those in overseas ballet companies. However, it is also difficult to join Korean ballet companies as much as overseas ones. It seems there are not many ballet companies. There are practically only two ballet companies in Seoul and one in Gwangju where dancers who want to showcase their skills in Korea can go. I hope more ballet companies will be established in Korea. If more ballet companies are created, the level will rise significantly and it will motivate dancers. If there are many ballet companies nearby, audiences can watch a variety of performances. For the citizens as well, I hope there will be more ballet companies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.