Universal Ballet Company Announces 2025 Performance Schedule... Opening Production is 'Giselle'

Performances of 'Chunhyang', 'Baekjo-ui Hosu' (Swan Lake), and 'Hodukkagi Inhyeong' (The Nutcracker)

The Universal Ballet will present the masterpiece of romantic ballet, 'Giselle,' as the opening production for 2025.

On the 27th, the Universal Ballet announced its confirmed performance schedule for 2025. The opening production will be 'Giselle,' performed in April next year at the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center. This will be followed by performances of 'Chunhyang' in June, 'Swan Lake' in July, and 'The Nutcracker' in December.

'Giselle' is a representative work of romantic ballet that offers a rich visual feast and heart-wrenching emotion, featuring corps de ballet of Willis moving lightly like air in pure white tutus, dazzling techniques of the lead roles, and three-dimensional acting. The Universal Ballet's 'Giselle' is also the first Korean ballet production to pave the way for overseas expansion. It has been four years since the Universal Ballet last performed 'Giselle.'

Hansang Lee (left) and Gantog Ocombiyanba of the Universal Ballet are performing "Giselle."
[Photo courtesy of Universal Ballet, (c) Kyoungjin Kim]

'Chunhyang' will be performed in June as an official invitation work of the Korea Ballet Festival. 'Chunhyang' is a creative ballet that embodies the beautiful Korean classic with Tchaikovsky's melodies. It was created with the global stage in mind from the planning stage, and since its full-length premiere in 2007, its originality and artistry were enhanced through revisions in 2014. Important scenes include the three-colored pas de deux of Chunhyang and Mongryong?'First Night Pas de Deux (excitement and tension) - Farewell Pas de Deux (tender sorrow) - Reunion Pas de Deux (passionate joy)'?the charismatic and masculine 'Top Scholar' and 'Government Official's Inspection,' and the 'Gisaeng Dance,' which highlights the unique brilliance of the female corps de ballet.

It has been three years since the Universal Ballet last performed 'Chunhyang.'

In July, the Universal Ballet will co-produce with the Seoul Arts Center the quintessential classical ballet, 'Swan Lake.' The Universal Ballet's 'Swan Lake' premiered in 1992 as the first domestic performance of the authentic Russian Mariinsky Ballet version, attracting much attention. Since then, it has been recognized for its originality and artistry on the world stage through tours in 13 countries overseas.

'The Nutcracker' will close the 2025 season. The Universal Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' has been performed over 620 times in 39 years since 1986, with an audience of approximately 950,000. The Universal Ballet will perform the choreography by Vasily Vainonen, a choreographer of the Russian Mariinsky Ballet.

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