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Ballerina Seo Hee marks 20 years at ABT, gives back to young dancers in Korea
Ballerina Seo Hee, left in front row, poses with the winners of Youth Grand Prix Korea at Kaywon High School of Arts in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 9. Courtesy of Hee Seo Foundation
By Kim Se-jeong
Ballerina Seo Hee, 38, joined the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the United States, in 2005.
She worked her way up the ranks and became a principal dancer in 2012.
Now marking her 20th year with ABT, Seo says she has much to be grateful for.
“Twenty years flew by. I approached every performance with a spirit of craftsmanship, and I am proud that I dedicated myself to dance for two decades,” Seo said in a statement.
“When I was a student, I received financial support from people whose names I didn’t even know. I told myself then that I would help others as much as I had been helped.”
True to her word, Seo has already been giving back.
The Hee Seo Foundation, a nonprofit she founded 10 years ago, supports aspiring ballet dancers in Korea. Each year, she returns home to offer free ballet classes across the country, while her foundation also provides scholarships to students at art schools.
What Seo is most proud of, however, is that her foundation hosts Youth Grand Prix Korea, the Korean qualifying round of the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), an international ballet competition and scholarship program.
“This was my effort to create opportunities for young dancers to compete internationally without leaving Korea,” she said. “Through YGP Korea, I brought a prestigious global competition here, easing the financial burden on parents. This project also allows me to invite ballet masters from around the world to teach local students.”
Ballet dancer Seo Hee, center, poses with Park Geon-hee, left, and Cho Soo-min, guest artists of "2026 Youth Grand Prix Korea Gala: Stars of Tomorrow," organized by Hee Seo Foundation. Park is the Grand Prix winner of 2024 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) New York final and Cho won the second place in Senior Women at YAGP Tampa finals. Courtesy of Hee Seo Foundation
Following master classes sponsored by Seoul Cyber University, this year’s qualifying competition was held at Kaywon High School of Arts in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 9.
“In celebration of YGP Korea’s 10th anniversary, we staged our first gala performance featuring both past winners and this year’s participants,” Seo said. “Watching the young dancers command such a grand stage was both astonishing and deeply gratifying.”
For Seo, nurturing future artists is a mission rooted in her own experience.
“For a great artist to be born, generous support is essential. I, too, have been able to stand here today thanks to the love and encouragement I received from so many people. That is why I want to give back the support I once received to the next generation.”