By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The Universal Ballet Company (UBC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, making the event even more special by renovating its 28-year-old theater.
``I had seen the molding being done on the center when I was a student at Sunhwa Arts School, and now we have transformed the Universal Arts Center into something greater," said Julia H. Moon, the general director of the UBC, during a gala to celebrate the renovation last week.
``We have put great effort to bring the best and repay the love we have received from so many visitors.''
Despite the colorful performances the UBC has staged over the years, the troupe had to deal with complaints from some visitors due to the uncomfortable seats and obstructed views. The center originally had flat floors as it was once used as a banquet venue.
Thus, the company twice went through a facelift ― in 2006 and this year ― to become a more comfortable and pleasant performance venue. The new chairs are from Kotobuki, one of the most famous chair manufacturers in the world, making the individual seating space wider for additional comfort. The UBC also renovated the ticket booth for a more practical and convenient experience.
Thanks to the tiered seats, visitors will get to watch the performance without having to shift side by side to get a better view; not to mention the difference the dancers get to experience on stage.
``Because the seats were not tiered in the past, the audience felt a little distant," Hwang Hye-min, the principal dancer at the UBC told The Korea Times.
"But now, thanks to the new seats, I can feel the audience's gazes closer than ever. The center has become a place where we can enjoy the performance better with the audience. Plus, it makes us feel a bit more tense because we can feel them concentrating on us.''
The UBC is preparing for ``The Nutcracker,'' their first performance after the renovation, which will open in December. For more information, visit www.ubcballet.com.