MOSCOW — One couldn’t ask for anything more Russian.
Here, the performing arts continue to reign high over television as sources of entertainment, and a Moscow experience is never complete without a visit to the famed Bolshoi Theater. It was a weekday evening, and the 850-seat theater was packed as usual with an audience eager to see a classic ballet by the country’s beloved enfant terrible Sergei Prokofiev.
Yet there was a twist — a Korean Romeo and Juliet pulled off a romantic pas de deux amid a corps de ballet comprised of blond, fair-skinned dancers. It was unprecedented for the esteemed ballet company to feature a main cast of Asians, but it was nothing short of a Bolshoi experience as the pitch-perfect act invited a full standing ovation.
These were none other than soloists of the Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) who were invited to perform in time for the 20th anniversary of Korea-Russia relations. Nine dancers took center stage Oct. 7 and 8 — two of three evenings that showcased the much-anticipated revival of Maestro Yuri Grigorovich’s version of “Romeo and Juliet.”
“I went backstage because I didn’t think we’d receive curtain calls. But I was so surprised when the staff told us to go back onstage because the audience was waiting for us,” said Kim Ji-young after playing Juliet on the second evening. “I’m so happy that the response was so positive.”
Kim was among other Korean dancers that comprised the main cast. The Moscow performance comes in time for an artistic exchange with Seoul, following performances by Bolshoi’s soloists here in the KNBC’s “Raymonda” in September.
The Bolshoi has in the past invited European soloists from La Scala or the Paris Opera to star in the lead roles, but the number never exceeded four. It was moreover the first time a whopping nine of them — from Asia, on top of that — took center stage.
“I am so proud to see fellow Korean dancers in the lead roles at the Bolshoi,” Bae Joo-yoon, 33, a member of the Bolshoi Ballet, said in tears after attending the Oct. 8 performance. A graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Bae is among three foreigners who are part of the 260-member troupe.
Kim, KNBC’s star ballerina, showed off her charms through her signature feather-light jumps and turns that earned her a reputation in the Netherlands. Kim Joo-won, who performed Juliet on the first evening, displayed a more delicate, fragile heroine with fluid, lyrical gestures.
Kim Hyun-woong dominated the stage with his tall swanky figure, personifying Romeo’s youthful ebullience and romantic ideals, but the spotlight equally went to Lee Yeong-cheol, who pulled off a charismatic Tybalt, a part that required striding movements that arced across the stage. Meanwhile, Yoon Jeon-il was extremely popular with the crowd as he showcased hilarious jest and jumps as Romeo’s mischievous best friend Mercutio.
Lee Soo-hee and Yoon Hae-jin played the role of Sir and Lady Capulet, respectively, and performed graceful pantomime movements. Yoon in particular shone while performing court dance-inspired sequences with the Bolshoi’s corps de ballet in perfect unison.
All Korean guest dancers were able to display their talents in full since Grigorovich’s interpretation of the Shakespearean tragedy gives equal weight to the supporting parts. Had it not been for the costumes, it would have been difficult to distinguish the Korean dancers from their Russian counterparts, as the harmony was palpable.
It was impressive particularly since the Korean dancers had to perform under new conditions. The theater, built 150 years ago, has a traditional-style stage of which the upper part (farthest away from the audience) is tapered up, thus requiring dancers to work on a sloped plane. Plus there were only two rehearsal sessions with the Bolshoi dancers, and neither one on the actual stage.
“It was a touching performance. It’s my son’s first time watching a ballet and he was especially charmed by Juliet,” said Yugovi Golojina, 39, who attended the performance on Oct. 7 with her 11-year-old son Ivan.