Ballets de Monte-Carlo Visits Korea... Korean Premiere of "Swan Lake" Reimagined as a Psychological Drama
by Park Pyunghee
Published 28 Apr.2026 07:22(KST)
Updated 28 Apr.2026 08:25(KST)
The Ballets de Monte-Carlo from Monaco will visit Korea next month to premiere Artistic Director Jean Christophe Maillot's signature work, "Swan Lake (LAC)," for the first time in the country.
On May 13, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo will stage "Swan Lake" as the opening performance for the Hwaseong Arts Center, followed by shows at Seoul Arts Center (May 16-17) and Daejeon Arts Center (May 20).
This is the ballet company's fifth visit to Korea. They first came to Korea in 2005 to perform "Cinderella," then returned with "La Belle" in 2007, a revival of "Cinderella" in 2019, and "Romeo and Juliet" in 2023.
"Swan Lake" is a reinterpretation of Tchaikovsky's classic by Artistic Director Maillot, first premiered in 2011. Director Maillot rejected the traditional fairy tale love story, instead transforming the original into a psychological drama that explores childhood trauma, family conflict, and the clash between good and evil within the human psyche. The French word "LAC" means "lake."
Artistic Director Maillot won the Lausanne Competition in 1977 and was recognized as a favored dancer of John Neumeier, the master of dramatic ballet. After a tragic accident forced him to give up his dream of dancing at a young age, he blossomed as a choreographer. He received the Nijinsky Award in 2001, the Benois de la Danse Award for Best Choreographer in 2008 (known as the Oscars of the dance world), the Golden Mask Award for Best Production in Russia in 2015, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lausanne Competition in 2018.
Artistic Director Maillot will be accompanied by Princess Caroline of Monaco, who is also the director of the ballet company, during this visit to Korea.
Princess Caroline is the eldest daughter of Prince Rainier III and Hollywood legend Princess Grace Kelly. After the passing of her mother, Princess Grace, Princess Caroline effectively served as Monaco's First Lady. In 1982, she took on leadership roles in the Monte-Carlo Arts Festival Organizing Committee, the Monaco Garden Club, and the Princess Grace Foundation. In 1985, she re-established the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, redefining Monaco as a global center for dance.
Monaco became a hub for modern ballet in the early 20th century, as the Ballets Russes, led by Sergei Diaghilev, was based there. After Diaghilev's death in 1929, the Ballets Russes dissolved, and in 1932 the Ballets de Monte-Carlo was founded to carry on its tradition. Following a complex history of splits and dissolutions, Princess Caroline revived the Ballets de Monte-Carlo in 1985 to honor her mother’s love for ballet and to restore Monaco's dance tradition.
The Ballets de Monte-Carlo is known for its exquisite blend of classical ballet elegance and the boldness of contemporary dance, leading the trends in the global dance scene. Artistic Director Maillot has been at the helm since 1993, guiding the company for more than 30 years.
This performance will be conducted by Igor Dronov, who is currently active at the Bolshoi Theatre. He has been Maillot's musical partner for major Ballets de Monte-Carlo productions including "Romeo and Juliet," "Cinderella," and "Swan Lake (LAC)."
Korean dancer Ahn Jaeyong will also take the stage. Ahn became the first Korean to join the Ballets de Monte-Carlo in 2016. After joining as a corps de ballet member, he quickly took on major roles in his first year and was promoted to second soloist in 2017. Thanks to the full trust of Director Maillot, he was promoted by two ranks at once and became a principal dancer in 2019. Currently, Lee Suyeon, who joined in 2024, and Shin Ahyun, formerly a soloist with the Ballet de l'Op?ra National de Bordeaux in France and who joined last year, are also active members of the company.
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