KNBC to Come Closer With Ballet Stars
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Some may still consider ballet a difficult form of art to fully appreciate. In order to change the misconception, the Korea National Ballet Company started its ``Ballet with Commentary'' program 12 years ago, and this year upgraded the beloved program with a star-studded cast.
``I can now feel the difference in the audience's reactions during a performance. They are more active and not afraid to express their feelings. I think they learned to open up a bit and try to appreciate ballet just as it is. I think the hard work of the KNBC finally paid off,'' Kim Joo-won, KNBC's principal dancer, told The Korea Times during an interview at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul.
``Ballet Stories by Ballet Stars'' is the new theme of this year's commentary program, in which dancers show several sequences of famous works and later explain the presented scenes, from costumes, movement vocabulary and props to music.
Kim will be the first to appear on stage, as a commentator for her ``Shall We Take a Trip Around the World?'' while fellow dancers Jang Un-kyu of the KNBC and Kim Ji-young of the Dutch National Ballet will join in with separate programs later this year.
``Ballet is not just about dance, but it's a well-rounded art form, including stage settings, costumes and movements to music. I wondered what else (viewers) could learn, and realized that many ballet pieces carry the characteristics of different countries. `A trip around the world with ballet,' I thought,'' she said.
While ``Don Quixote'' offers the fiery and passionate elements of Spain, ``La Bayadere'' presents the exotic settings of India, and viewers will have the chance to watch the famous scenes via KNBC's principal dancers, including Kim Ji-young.
``The best way to express myself is through movement so talking in front of the audience is still a bit awkward,'' she laughed.
Kim also added that the program is not only helpful to viewers, but dancers as well.
For beginners, performing a complete piece can come as a great burden, but the ``Ballet with Commentary'' allows the dancers to perform the cream of the crop and help them get used to the stage and audience.
``Dancers tend to have a certain colors: some may have the image of Giselle, and others of Raymonda. But during this program, dancers can try out different roles and even discover their hidden talents, while the audience get to see a different side of famous dancers,'' said Kim.
Many cultural fields have also started their own versions of getting closer to the public, including lectures, special classes and events, and for the KNBC, among the first organizations to introduce the concept, it was good to know that many have started to realize the importance of viewers.
``It really is a great program. We cannot perform without the audience, so we want to offer our viewers with something new, interesting and fun. I think visitors will enjoy this year's program with the dancers themselves come out and offering explanations, rather than a dance expert or choreographer,'' she said.
Kim's ``Shall We Take a Trip Around the World?'' will take place April 10-11 at Seoul Arts Center and will continue in October and November with Jang and Kim Ji-young, respectively. Tickets cost from 5,000 won to 15,000 won. For more information, visit www.kballet.org or call 1587-6181 (Korean).