By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Ballet may have started in Europe, but Hwang Hye-min, the principal dancer of the Universal Ballet Company (UBC), hopes for the day when foreign dancers will appear on stage dressed in hanbok.
``Ballet is known as a Western art form, but we thought it would be interesting to incorporate Asian elements through `The Love of Chun-hyang.' Who knows? Blue eyed dancers may wear hanbok and portray the love story of Chun-hyang some day in the future,'' Hwang said, referring to the classic love story of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) transformed into a ballet piece to be staged this month, during an interview with The Korea Times Tuesday at UBC, northern Seoul.
According to Hwang, 30, the story of Chun-hyang is perfect for a remake as a ballet piece with its heartwarming yet dramatic storyline, memorable characters and beautiful settings.
The beautiful young maiden Chun-hyang falls in love with Mong-ryong and the two promise their love with an elegant pas de deux. Their plans take a turn, however, when Mong-ryong leaves for Seoul to take the national exam to become a government official. Meanwhile, the evil magistrate Byun pays a visit to Chun-hyang's village and decides to make Chun-hyang his mistress. When Chun-hyang refuses, Byun decides to kill her, but just as the executioner is ready to strike her neck, Mong-ryong comes to the rescue.
Hwang, who has been performing at UBC since 2002, will play Chun-hyang, which seemed to match perfectly with her pale delicate features and lean figure, while her boyfriend and fellow dancer Uhm Jae-yong will play Mong-ryong.
``It's important to have a certain connection with your partner, and because of my relationship with Uhm, we click very well together,'' Hwang said.
For the ballerina, ballet was not actually a calling, but more of an accidental coincidence.
``I learned gymnastics when I was young, and I got the chance to try out ballet when my friend decided to take dance classes. It was a casual approach and later I found myself continuing, while my friend didn't,'' she said.
Studying at the Academie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monaco and the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington D.C. helped her broaden her view as a dancer, and Hwang pointed out the biggest difference in training abroad was attending professional ballet schools. Korea does not yet have a school solely focused on ballet.
A firm believer in self-discipline, Hwang not only trains more than six hours every day, but also takes care of herself by trying out different forms of exercise, including pilates.
``You don't realize this when you are young, but taking care of your body is the most important lesson. Looking pretty and other technical movements are crucial, but I think it is nothing compared to caring for your body and staying fit and healthy,'' she said.
When asked about the upcoming performance ``Chun-hyang,'' Hwang explained the biggest difference in movements.
``Ballet is more pointy and you have to be light and swift, whereas Korean dance tends to be more heavy and you slide downward and move more horizontally. It's what makes the work more interesting: Visitors can appreciate both ballet and traditional dance in one performance,'' she said.
The UBC invited Bae Jung-hye, the artistic director of the National Dance Company of Korea, as the producer and incorporated traditional dance movements to the graceful ballet.
Despite her vast and successful experience on stage, the ballerina admitted that sometimes it was hard to grasp the idea of being ``old.''
``I'm not considered young anymore. It's sad and an irony because just when you think you relate to the heroines and learn the emotions, you are either too old or can't take on the movements like you did when you were young,'' she said.
Famous for her angelic and innocent image, the ballerina quickly added that that was the image she would pursue for the time being.
``Even today, dance is just a form of expression. It's a way of expressing my sentiment, which would be the innocent and delicate image. I hope to become one of the best ballerinas to portray that certain image perfectly,'' Hwang said.
``The Love of Chun-hyang'' will be on stage at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center from June 19 to 20. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, visit www.artgy.or.kr or call 1577-7766.