'Ballet is more fun than K-dramas,' says Mariinsky soloist Maria Khoreva
Maria Khoreva in Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" / Courtesy of Mariinsky Ballet
Russian star dancer returning to Korea after 8 years for local ballet festival
“I could tell that the moment Giselle first met Albrecht in the ballet 'Giselle,' the instant I looked into Min-cheol’s eyes, he was already inside the story. He is an amazing dancer who not only has outstanding technique but also creates genuine chemistry with his partner onstage.”
Maria Khoreva, 26, a first soloist with Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet, spoke highly of fellow company member and Korean ballet dancer Jeon Min-cheol, 22, during a press conference for the 19th Seoul International Ballet Festival (K-Ballet World) held Monday at Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam.
The two dancers have shared the stage in productions including "Romeo and Juliet," "Giselle," "Swan Lake" and "La Fille du Pharaon."
“For me, the story is more important than whether my partner can technically hold me firmly,” Khoreva said. “Min-cheol genuinely wants to tell his own, unique story.”
She added, “Korean dancers, both men and women, are now at the highest level.”
Russian dancer Maria Khoreva, right, a first soloist with Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet, speaks during a press conference at Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam, Monday. On the left is Kim Dong-gon, president of the Korea Ballet Association. Courtesy of Korea Ballet Association
Khoreva will perform alongside Makar Mikhalkin, a soloist with Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet, at the festival’s opening gala, K-Ballet World Stars, at the Grand Theater of ARKO Arts Center in Seoul on Tuesday and Wednesday.
After graduating from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Khoreva joined the Mariinsky Ballet in 2018 and was promoted to first soloist in her first year with the company, an unusually rapid rise that drew international attention.
“I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world because I can interpret different characters through dance, from Giselle and Juliet to Odette and Odile,” she said.
Maria Khoreva actively communicates with ballet fans through Instagram. Captured from Instagram
Khoreva is also a “ballet influencer,” sharing her training and daily life on social media and communicating with some 680,000 followers.
“The world is changing, and people are changing,” she said. “At first, I thought of social media as an opportunity to share my love of art and tell my story. But now it has developed into a mission for me — to connect generations of people who love ballet.”
She said she hopes to show younger generations, who may find classical ballet boring or difficult, that ballet can be an art form they can truly enjoy.
Khoreva is also a fan of K-pop and K-dramas. An ARMY who follows BTS and a STAY who supports Stray Kids, she joked, “Ballet lets you experience the most genuine emotions in life. It is more fun than movies — and, I’m sorry to say this, even more fun than K-dramas.”
Khoreva is returning to the Korean stage for the first time in eight years, following Mariinsky Ballet’s 2018 performance in Korea.
Asked about the political circumstances surrounding the overseas activities of Russian artists following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Khoreva drew a distinction between her profession and politics.
“I am an artist, not a politician,” she said. She also emphasized that “the definition and meaning of art is to connect people’s souls and speak about eternal values and beauty. Art must continue to be spoken about under any circumstances. It is a universal language."
Maria Khoreva in "Giselle"/ Courtesy of Mariinsky Ballet
The festival is running through Oct. 1, beginning with the opening gala and continuing with programs including K-Ballet Repertoire, the Youth Ballet Festival and a competition showcasing emerging choreographers.
The K-Ballet World Stars gala will also feature Lee Yu-rim and Lee Hyun-joon, as well as Jeon Yeo-jin and Lee Seung-min of Universal Ballet; Park Seul-gi and Park Jong-seok of Korean National Ballet; and Lee Myung-hyun of Japan’s New National Theatre Ballet and Mio Naotsuka.
“Through the festival, we aim to create a platform where world-class dancers, leading Korean dancers, promising young artists and new works can take the stage, expanding the repertoire and creative horizons of Korean ballet,” said Kim Dong-gon, president of the Korea Ballet Association.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.