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| Seoul Ballet Theatre will present a gala performance at the outdoor square of the Seoul Arts Center on May 14. / Courtesy of BAFEKO |
Korea Ballet Festival offers classical and contemporary galore
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Ballet is an art form that celebrates the movement of the human body. Despite the beauty of the dance, ballet is often considered difficult or abstruse. The sixth edition of Ballet Festival Korea (BAFEKO) is ready to challenge this idea.
Running from Friday through May 29 at Seoul Arts Center (SAC) in southern Seoul, this year's BAFEKO is studded with rare performances ranging from classical repertoire to cutting-edge modern ballet premiering in Korea.
Do Joung-nim, president of the Korea Ballet Association and the chairperson of BAFEKO, said, "The ballet festival contributes to the development of Korean ballet. Our motto this year is 'Ballet for everyone' and we prepared more accessible works to take a step closer to the public."
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| The sixth Ballet Festival Korea runs through May 29 at the Seoul Arts Center. / Courtesy of BAFEKO |
Top ballet companies
All three major ballet companies of Korea take part in this year's BAFEKO. The Korea National Ballet (KNB) presents the opening act at Opera Theater of SAC on May 13 and 14.
The KNB's "Special Gala" consists of a variety of classical and modern repertoire of the company. On Friday, the company will dance "Homage a Bolshoi," "Black Stage," "Ballet 101" and grand pas de deux from "Don Quixote," while presenting "Swan Lake," "Little Monsters" and "Tango" on Saturday.
The Universal Ballet Company (UBC) will stage modern ballet works "Duende" and "MINUS 7" as a part of "This Is Modern" program at CJ Towol Theater on May 20 and 21.
The works by world's top contemporary choreographers Nacho Duato and Ohad Naharin, respectively, will offer a glimpse of dynamic and energetic modern ballet.
The Seoul Ballet Theater (SBT), known for adding Korean twist on ballet, will present a gala performance at outdoor square of SAC on May 14. Choreographed by SBT's James Jeon, the company covers from romantic and classical ballet to modern works, showcasing the essence of the history of ballet.
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| Universal Ballet Company's "This Is Modern — Duende" will be staged at CJ Towol Theater of the Seoul Arts Center on May 20 and 21. / Courtesy of BAFEKO |
Twist on classics
Two seasoned ballerinos offer their own choreography. Kim Yong-geol, professor of Korean National University of Arts, presents "Work 2 S" at CJ Towol Theater on May 28 and 29. The piece, which received acclaims in 2014 and 2015, captures the charm of modern ballet with body movements.
Lee Won-kook, another dancer-turned-choreographer, stages "Cinderella" with his Lee Wonkook Ballet Company. Lee created a family-oriented ballet with fun dance movements to classical music of Johann Strauss and will star as the mean stepmother, which will add humor to the ballet.
Contemporary dancer Lee Lu-da, well-known for her appearance in dance survival show "Dancing 9," will present "Black Swan Lake" at Jayu Theater on May 27 and 28.
With her company Luda Lee Black Toe Project, Lee gives a twist to the classic "Swan Lake" by shifting the perspective to that of black swans. The music of Tchaikovsky is remixed with electronic sounds to add modern atmosphere.
Paired with Lee's "Black Swan Lake" is "BURN" by Human Stance Art Group. Choreographed by Cho Jae-hyuk and Kim Byung-jo of the National Dance Company of Korea, "BURN" juxtaposes images of elegant ballet dancers and tough boxers, maximizing the beauty of body movements.
Contemporary flair
Highlight of this year's KODAFE would be Germany-based choreographer Hue Young-soon's "The Edge of the Circle" and "Contrast," both staged in Korea for the first time at SAC's CJ Towol Theater on May 24 and 25.
Hue is one of the first generation Korean dancers to go abroad and danced at Frankfurt Ballet, Zurich Ballet and Basel Ballet as well as a principal at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. She is known for choreographing contemporary ballet pieces representing modern society.
Among her works "Contrast," world premiered in May 2014 by Tulsa Ballet, portrays the contrasting world of airport and home, while "The Edge of the Circle" compares human relations to the characteristics of a circle.
Top Korean dancers including former KNB principal Kim Joo-won, UBC principals Hwang Hye-min and Ohm Jae-yong and contemporary dancer Lee Sun-tae take part in Hue's works.
Eighteen aspiring dancers will gather for "Young Rising Stars of Korea Ballet" at Jayu Theater on May 23 and 24. The performance features solo and pas de deux of young Korean dancers who won international competitions to gain a glimpse of the future of Korean ballet.
For more information, visit www.bafeko.com or call 02-580-1300.
