By Lee Hyo-won
The Universal Ballet Company (UBC) will kick off a tour across Japan Thursday to showcase “Shim Chung,” its signature piece about a daughter’s filial love and piety.
The troupe will stage the Korean folktale in four cities, beginning Thursday at the Alsok Hall in Hiroshima, followed by the Kobe International House Kokusai Hall on Saturday, Nagoya Chukyo University Culture City House Aurora Hall on Sunday and finally Tokyo’s Yupoto Hall on Nov. 24.
“While Japan does not have a large-scale ballet company like Korea, it has a solid fan base and is a much-sought after stage for dancers. Since making its Japanese debut in 1985, the UBC has given 13 tours, of which seven were for ‘Shim Chung,”’ said the UBC in a press release. The company has a Japanese website as well as a fan club there to cater to the local interest.
“Shim Chung” may have become a rather familiar story to Japanese fans, but they can expect something a little different, as an upgraded rendition that was featured in Seoul earlier this year will be performed.
Though the sophisticated digital video piece depicting the heroine’s famous plunge into the sea will not be shown, due to the limited space within the Japanese theaters, fans can look forward to costumes by a designer who has also created pieces for the American Ballet Theater and a more opulent depiction of the Korean royal court in the final act.
“Shim Chung” was choreographed by the UBC’s first artistic director Adrienne Dellas to music by Kevin Barber Pickard. It tells the handed-down tale of the lovely, devoted Shim Chung, who hears of an expensive operation that may cure her father’s blindness.
In order to afford the expense, she sells herself to sailors who are in need of a maiden to sacrifice to the Sea Dragon King. Her devotion and self-sacrifice is ultimately rewarded with a happy marriage to the king.
Beginning in 2001, the ballet has been staged overseas at prestigious venues such as the New York Lincoln Center and Washington D.C. Kennedy Center, and praised for its unique focus on familial love. The New York Times said it is “filled with vivid and lyrical dancing and heartwarming storytelling with some lessons to teach about dance audiences.”
Visit www.universalballet.jp (Japanese) or www.ubcballet.com (Korean) for more information about the UBC.
hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr