By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Choe Lina, the daughter of the Korea National Ballet's artistic director Choi Tae-ji, will make her debut as a prima ballerina of the renowned Russian ballet troupe Eifman Ballet.
The 22 year-old Choe will appear as baroness Nadezha von Meck in the ballet ``Tchaikovsky'' at the Alexandrine Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 24.
``Her debut means a lot because there are not many Korean dancers in Russia, and considering the characteristic of the ballet troupe, it's very important for Korea's overall dance scene,'' Jang Kwang-ryul, a ballet columnist, told The Korea Times.
Boris Eifman is famous for bringing famous novels and myths with strong and dramatic storylines to the stage. His ballet troupe, thus, requires not only superb dancing skills, but the ability to express the dramatic feelings of the character.
Choe is the second Korean to join the prominent Eifman Ballet after former dancer Baik Young-tae and the first to become a prima ballerina of the troupe.
She will soon visit Korea to attend the ``Korea World Dance Stars Festival'' on July 24 to 27.
Her mother, Choi Tae-ji, was also a prominent dancer at the Korea National Ballet. She formerly worked with famous choreographers Yuri Grigorovich and Jean Christophe Maillot.