By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
World-renowned ballerina Kang Sue-jin is holding her first ballet tour around Korea with her fellow dancer friends this coming week.
Kang, the youngest ballerina to enter Germany's Stuttgart Ballet in 1986, will bring six prominent dancers to perform the ballet and musical gala.
As the trend in performances, particularly ballet, has been the fusion of various genres, this show will also include elements of musicals and contemporary dance to the original ballet act.
With the grand scale of classic ballet, the modern touch of contemporary dance and finally well-known music from beloved musicals, this special event is expected to thrill fans.
Kang, 41, is one of Korea's favorite ballerinas working under the international spotlight. Winning critical acclaim and also many prestigious prizes including the Prix de Lausanne and Prix Benois de la Danse, she was the first Asian to be honored as a Kammertanzerin, or chamber dancer, by the German government. The gracious and articulate dancer's arduous training became widely known through a documentary here, with photos of her tired feet after a 10-hour daily training.
This is the first time for Kang to hold a tour of her native country and it will surely be an unforgettable time for both her and the audience.
Kang will begin the show by performing the pas de deux of ``Lady of the Camellias'' with Marijin Rademaker and ``Onegin'' with Jason Reilly, both principal dancers from the Stuttgart Ballet. ``Onegin'', with its character Tatiana, is known to be one of Kang's favorite repertoires, requiring delicate emotions with dramatic storylines and frameworks.
The two male dancers in the group will continue with a male pas de deux ``My way,'' with Frank Sinatra's famous song ``My Way'' as the backdrop.
A number of dancers from highly acclaimed ballet troupes will also join in, including those form the Dutch National Ballet, the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Canadian modern dance troupe called the Suddenly Dance Theater and the Korea National Ballet. Contemporary dance troupe Laboratory Dance Project will also offer a dynamic group dance.
For musical lovers, the performance of two special guests will indeed be a treat. Dancer-turned-musical actor Randy Diamond and Germany's hit musical actress Maricel Wolk will offer famous musical numbers for the Korean audience.
Diamond will sing ``Gethsemane'' from ``Jesus Christ Superstar'' and ``This is the Moment'' from ``Jekyll and Hyde,'' while Wolk will present ``Memory'' from ``Cats,'' ``Defying Gravity'' from ``Wicked'' and also a song from ``Evita.'' The two actors will also sing together musical numbers from ``Aida'' and ``Dirty Dancing.''
With an interesting program carried out by prominent dancers, the performance could be a memorable experience for musical, modern dance and ballet fans.
``Kang Sue-jin With Friends'' will be on stage July 20-Aug. 1 at Ansan, Incheon, Geoje, Daegu, Gimhae, Pohang and Uijeongbu. Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 70,000 won and vary depending on the venue. For more information, visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or call (02) 3674-2210.