By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
It was a moment of silence: Korean ballerina Kang Sue-jin was giving her last performance as Juliet in her homeland and audience members held their breath as the ``steel butterfly'' set foot on stage.
The Stuttgart Ballet joined her every step of the way as Romeo and Juliet was finally presented 14 years after her debut as the fragile yet determined young heroine.
Celebrated choreographer John Cranko was in charge of this particular piece, and the master's dramatic and grand elements were indeed visible throughout the performance.
Members of both families _ the Capulets and the Montagues _ performed with shiny swords, adding realism to the famous piece, while the overall settings and costumes were exquisite.
Cranko's version of Shakespeare's work focuses on the dramatic expressions of the characters, instead of the overall narration. Indeed, the swift movements of each dancer were impeccable; truly showing how skilled the German troupe was in terms of technique and expression.
The heroine of the evening, Kang appeared with sharp and swift movements, with a glow that could only come from experience and arduous training.
The scene where the two lovers danced the pas de deux under the moonlight was breathtaking. Kang shined under the moon, dressed in a pale pink and white dress, with Filip Barankiewicz who played Romeo, captivated the audience with his masculine charms and sharp footwork.
``I wanted to present my performances for the Korean public before I retire,'' Kang said at a press conference a few days before the performance.
Already in her forties, the principal dancer expressed her affection toward the local audience, promising that she will return with other works like ``The Lady of the Camellias'' and ``Eugene Onegin.''
The finale, where the couple proves their love through death, was carried out in silence and respect, as the two lovers expressed their sorrow and love through intimate and romantic movements.
More dramatic than other choreographers who bring Romeo and Juliet to the ballet stage, Kang and Barankiewicz ended the performance with a sad, yet beautiful climax.
Fellow ballerinas who dance in the local scene were present at the venue, and they too expressed their excitement watching Kang perform Juliet for the last time.
``Cranko's work can be a bit boring, to be frank, but there was so much energy. I especially noticed how good the male dance group was, not just one, but all of them together. It was also hard to believe that Kang is in her forties, as her performance was well skilled and very mature. She also has star power, which I believe is hard to have at the same time, as a Korean dancer,'' Kang Ye-na, the principal dancer of Universal Ballet, told The Korea Times.
Kang also added that despite the fact that the seats were probably full of people hoping to watch Kang dance, the ballerina's sequences were quite short.
Indeed, it was a full house, with fans, young and old, gathered to watch Romeo and Juliet, and like Kang from Universal Ballet mentioned, it might have been a bit disappointing for those who came amid the chilly winds to catch a glimpse of the famous ballerina.
However, it was evident that Kang is still a great star in Korea and her passion toward ballet has not decreased even a little.
``The fun thing about art is that it makes you feel like you are in your teens or even in your seventies, depending on how well you act. I am sad to think this will be my last performance here as Juliet but I will be back with others,'' Kang added at the conference.