Bolshoi ballerina Svetlana Zakharova to dance in Seoul wearing Chanel costumes

Ballerina Svetlana Zakharova as Coco Chanel in "Modanse" / Courtesy of InArts Production

Svetlana Zakharova, the Ukrainian-born Russian principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, is set to grace Seoul in Chanel costumes in April.

The acclaimed dancer will premiere "Modanse," a unique blend of "mode," meaning fashion in French, and danse, or dance, at the Seoul Arts Center from April 17 to 21, except for April 18.

The double bill has garnered attention for its collaboration between ballet and haute couture since its debut at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre in 2019.

Mauro Bigonzetti's "Come un Respiro" (Like a Breath) features choreography that modernizes the Baroque aesthetic against Handel's music with Helena de Medeiros' fantastical costumes.

The second half of the program is "Gabrielle Chanel," choreographed by Yuri Possokhov, portraying the life of the iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel, and audiences will have an opportunity to witness around 80 costumes designed by the French luxury fashion house founded by the designer, including Chanel's signature jersey flapper dresses and tweed ensembles.

Zakharova will dance principal roles in both segments.

The production, a collaborative effort by Yuri Baranov and Kate Matlashenko, marks Zakharova's return to Korea alongside 25 members of the Bolshoi Ballet after four years. Initially planned for 2021, the Seoul premiere of "Modanse" was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The show's Korean organizer, InArts, highlighted that the ballet depicts the life story of the famed designer who liberated women from the physical and metaphorical constraints of corsets and restrictive clothing of the previous decades.

The return of the celebrated ballet dancer, along with her critically acclaimed new work, has been welcomed with enthusiasm by fans in Korea. However, there are concerns surrounding the hosting of Russia's state-owned theater amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Bolshoi Theatre has encountered cultural boycotts in the West due to the war.

"As the war continues, the atmosphere has slightly changed," a Seoul Arts Center official told The Korea Times.

"Since schedules of performances are fixed a couple of years in advance, we can't just one-sidedly disqualify or cancel the scheduled show, citing the sensitivity of this issue or timing. Our focus is more on the quality of the performance and its organizers."

The center is also mindful of potential boycotts and is closely monitoring social media for public reactions to the performance.