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| Ballerina Park Sae-eun of the Paris Opera Ballet poses during a press conference held in Seoul on Monday. Courtesy of Etoile Classic |
By Park Ji-won
June 10 this year was a historical day for Korean ballet, as the Paris Opera Ballet (POB) promoted ballerina Park Sae-eun to become its principal dancer, or "danseuse etoile," literally meaning "star dancer" in English, shortly after she performed the role of Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet." She is the first Asian to be given the position in the 352-year-old French ballet company's history.
Many of her colleagues knew that she would be promoted. But Park said she just kept her focus on the stage role. Aurelie Dupont, dance director of the ballet company, sent her flowers, which are normally given only to principal dancers, to celebrate her upcoming promotion.
"Actually, I was just happy to have been able to successfully perform the role of Juliet and enjoyed the performance that day," Park said during a news conference held in Seoul, Monday. "Upon hearing that I became etoile, I burst into tears because I thought the day had finally came … The meaning of etoile is being desperate and tolerant. I still don't know what to do as the first Asian etoile, but I am sure that France has become more inclusive than before. I might not have been able to become the principal dancer if it were in the past. I think I was lucky to perform in this time with my colleagues."
With the promotion, Park said she has now reached a pinnacle in her career; but noted she also feels as if she's just beginning, adding she would like to show more of what she has to offer to audiences. Park unashamedly expressed her ambition saying she hopes to become the best of the best.
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| Ballerina Park Sae-eun of the Paris Opera Ballet speaks during a press conference held in Seoul on Monday. Yonhap |
Her stardom didn't come overnight.
It took a decade for the now the 31-year-old ballerina to rise to the position since joining the company in 2011. After quitting the Korean National Ballet, she joined the French company, starting as a member of the "corps de ballet" in 2011. She served as "coryphee" or leader of the corps de ballet in 2013, as "sujet," a soloist in 2014, and as "premiere danseuse," or first dancer, since 2016, which is the position right below principal dancer. She preferred to stay in the dance studio longer than her colleagues and learned French every morning.
Park learned French ballet from scratch. She said it was a difficult task to fulfill. Also, she had to pass examinations every year to be promoted.
"When I first came to France, where people are very proud of their tradition of the dance, people had two opinions about my dancing. Some said I am only good at expressing skills, not emotions. Some said I would become a really great dancer and would outperform French people," she said.
"I had to learn the French ballet style from the beginning, which has different details than that of Russia. So I was continuously told to fix my ballet into the French way. Also, it is a very hierarchical society so I didn't get enough chances to show myself ― my art ― and perform until I passed promotional tests … It took many years to find the answer for my art. But I concluded that no matter what the style is, I would try to dance to move people's hearts ― a key in dance."
She wasn't sure about her artistic direction until she was promoted to first dancer in 2016. But the title gave her confidence and she never doubted herself after that.
"I never doubted myself after getting the first dancer title. When I started to express fully, many would love it. I still don't know why I was able to achieve the title, but I think the self-confidence gave me power to become etoile."
As the highest dancer in the company, she no longer needs to take promotional tests until her retirement at the age of 42. She is also given a personal assistant and private room. She is set to join the Ballet Parade in Sept. 25, where there will be some 250 dancers including principal dancers wearing crowns, to open the company's season.
Park said, "I am still excited about my promotion but it doesn't feel real that I am one of the stars. But I think it will settle in after the parade. I cannot wait to be the part of the parade."
