By Han Sang-hee
Staff reporter
Korean Ballerina Seo Hee has become the first Korean soloist for the American Ballet Theater (ABT), one of the most prestigious dance troupes in the world.
According to a phone call with Yonhap News Monday, the 24-year-old heard the news from Kevin McKenzie, artistic director of ABT, by phone, who informed her that she was advancing as a soloist.
``First of all, I am very happy. People have told me that this will change (my) dance environment, but to be honest, I don't know what is going to happen,'' she said.
A soloist is a dancer above the corps de ballet and right below principal dancer. The position allows the dancer to play major parts along with the principal dancer.
Seo has been in the troupe's corps de ballet for the past four years. There are currently seven soloists in the ABT, including Seo, which has some 80 members.
Joining the ABT in 2004, Seo performed in major works including ``Giselle,'' ``La Bayadere, ``La Sylphide'' and ``Swan Lake,'' and was also chosen as one of the most impressive dancers by the American ballet magazine ``Pointe'' in 2007.
In 2009, she was chosen to appear as Juliet in the famous ballet work for the troupe last year. This was also a first for a Korean ballerina to play the main role in a complete performance of the ABT and a pleasant surprise within the ballet scene, as it is not often a member of the corps de ballet gets a shot to take a major role.
After starting dancing during the sixth grade, Seo experienced various forms and styles of ballet by studying under the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington D.C., the John Cranko Ballet School in Germany and finally as part of the ABT.