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| A scene from ballet "The Love of Chunhyang" / Courtesy of Universal Ballet Company |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The Universal Ballet Company (UBC) will perform "The Love of Chunhyang" at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) in the capital of Oman on April 16 and 17.
The Korean private dance company, led by Julia Moon, has been invited by the Omani government to present its full repertoire telling the tale of Chunhyang, a courtesan's daughter who falls in love with Mongryong who is born into the nobility.
Opened in 2011, the ROHM is Oman's flagship venue for the performing arts and was commissioned by the Sultan.
"The UBC performed ‘Simchung' in 2011 to celebrate the opening of the theater and the Omani theater was impressed by the uniqueness of Korean ballet, including the love for the family. So they invited us again to present another dance piece," Moon said in a press release.
Universal's "Chunhyang" premiered in 2007, but got a facelift last year with an overhauled set, costume and music, which received positive reviews.
The ballet company made a few tweaks for its Omani performance to accommodate cultural specifics. As skimpy outfits are banned in Islamic culture, "gisaeng," or female entertainers, will wear long-sleeved "jeogori", instead of sleeveless dresses worn in the Korean version.
A part of Chunhyang and Mongryong's pas de deux will be behind a curtain and any props related to booze will be removed from the scene of the party at the home of the magistrate, Byeon.
Hwang Hye-min will dance in Chunhyang with Ohm Jae-yong as Mongryong on April 16 and Kang Mi-sun will take the female lead with male partner Lee Dong-tak on April 17.
For more information, visit www.rohmuscat.org.om.
