Universal Ballet to Stage Elegant Swan Lake
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The beautiful and tragic tale of ``Swan Lake'' is returning to the stage this month.
The Universal Ballet Company (UBC) is bringing the popular repertoire back for local fans, with a mix up of new and original cast members.
Unlike the Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) that performs the version arranged by Russian choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, UBC prefers Russian choreographer Marius Petipa's version, which is a tragedy.
``The KNBC's version is more grand and majestic, while UBC tends to be more detailed and elaborate,'' Lim So-young, planning and promotion director, told The Korea Times.
It was in 1992 when the UBC invited the Kirov Ballet Company artistic director Oleg Vinogradov to put on the exact same performance for the local audience. With the help of Vinogradov, the UBC became the only troupe in the world to pass on the tradition of the Kirov Ballet.
The efforts made by the UBC to bring Russia's authentic ballet to Korea paid off and the troupe eventually became one of the top ballet companies in Korea and Asia.
``It isn't every ballet company that can afford to restage a lavish full-length production of `Swan Lake,' which was originally produced for the Kirov Ballet. Nor can every company drill into its corps de ballet the astounding precision and attention to stylistic detail that the Universal Ballet demonstrates,'' dance critic Anna Kisselgoff wrote in The New York Times in 1998.
Must-see scenes include the corps de ballet performed by 24 ballerinas dressed in white. Some ballet-lovers reserve the second floor seats, as they are the best spots to watch the dancers moving slowly to the music under the light blue settings and lightings. This particular scene is called the ``Ballet Blanc,'' and is considered as one of the most famous scenes in ballet history. The UBC is already famous for its corps de ballet with the dancers moving in perfect harmony, and visitors will get to watch the elegant and flawless performance this time as well.
Another not-to-miss scene is the one in which the prima ballerina playing Odette transforms herself into the evil Odile. As much as the role of the main character in Swan Lake is a favorite among ballerinas, it requires not only superb dance techniques but also excellent acting skills and expressions. While Odette is portrayed as a lovely and pure maiden trapped in a spell, Odile seduces prince Siegfried dressed in a black tutu with her mischievous smile. The cr?me of the crop is the scene where Odile finally tricks Siegfried and convinces him to believe that she is Odette, performing a 32 fouettes en tournant, which has become a favorite among both dancers and viewers.
Some of the best dancers from the UBC will get together to bring the beauty and elegance of Swan Lake: Lim Hye-kyung and Lee Hyun-jun; Hwang Hye-min and Uhm Jae-yong; Kang Ye-na and Ivan Gil-Ortega; and Han Seo-hae and Lee Seung-hyun.
UBC's ``Swan Lake'' will be on stage at the Universal Arts Center from March 26 t0 31. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or call 1588-7890.