Korean ballet stars make homecoming en pointe with host of productions
From “Swan Lake” to “Don Quixote,” the country’s biggest names in the art form return from prestigious institutes abroad for the summer ready to amaze.
Korean ballerino Kim Ki-min, center, performs in “Don Quixote.” A version of the ballet adapted and directed by Kim will be staged to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Korea National University of Arts’ School of Dance.MARIINSKY THEATRE
Korea’s ballet stars are grand-jeté-ing home for the summer.
Local dancers based at some of the world’s leading ballet companies are returning during their offseasons to perform for Korean audiences, with a lineup spanning classical staples and contemporary works. As such homecomings become increasingly common, summer has emerged as a new peak season for ballet in Korea.
The classic “Swan Lake” will run from Friday to 23 at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District, southern Seoul. Co-produced by the Seoul Arts Center and Universal Ballet, the production returns for a second consecutive year.
After recording a 95.6 percent seat occupancy rate last year, the production is drawing even more attention this year with Jeon Min-chul, dubbed an “idol of the ballet world,” joining the cast.
Jeon joined Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet in October 2025, becoming the second Korean dancer at the company after Kim Ki-min. Now a first soloist with the company, Jeon will dance the role of Prince Siegfried. Tickets for the shows on Aug. 16 and 19, when Jeon takes the stage, have already sold out.
“I tried to learn as much as I possibly could in Russia,” he said. “I want to show the audience and the dancers I’m performing with what I gained from my first season in Russia.”
Jeon will also take the stage with alumni of the Korea National University of Arts at the Haeoreum Grand Theater in Jung District, central Seoul, on Aug. 21. The performance will mark the 30th anniversary of the university’s School of Dance.
Moon Hoon-sook, general director of the Universal Ballet, left, and ballerino Jeon Min-chul attend a press conference for the 2026 production of "Swan Lake" at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Aug. 6.SEOUL ARTS CENTER & UNIVERSAL BALLET
The anniversary will be celebrated with a production of “Don Quixote,” adapted and directed by Kim, who joined the Mariinsky Ballet in 2011 and has been a principal dancer there since 2015.
Other alumni performing alongside current students include Lee Eun-won, a dancer with The Washington Ballet; Han Sung-woo, a soloist with the American Ballet Theatre; and Ahn Jae-yong, a principal dancer with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.
“I wanted to capture the past, present and future of the Korea National University of Arts in the classical ballet ‘Don Quixote,’” Kim said at a press conference on Tuesday. “I wanted to preserve the existing framework of the ‘Don Quixote’ choreography while helping the students bring out as much of their individuality as possible.”
Ballerino Kim Ki-min, right, performs as the male lead in a production of "Don Quixote"KIM KI-MIN
Contemporary ballet is also getting its share of the summer spotlight.
On the contemporary productions front, the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet is marking its second anniversary with “Der Tod und das Mädchen.” The double bill takes inspiration from Franz Schubert’s string quartet of the same name, which premiered 200 years ago this year.
The upcoming double bill features internationally renowned choreographer Christian Spuck’s “Das siebte Blau” and Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman’s “Cacti.”
A promotional poster for a double bill production of “Der Tod und das Mädchen," scheduled to run from Aug. 14 to 16 at Haeoreum Theater in Jung District, central Seoul.SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
“Das siebte Blau,” which premiered in 2000, will make its Asian debut with Kang Hyo-jung, a principal dancer with Germany’s Semperoper Ballett Dresden, and Lim Su-jung, a soloist with Switzerland’s Ballett Zürich, among its performers.
“This production deals with the heavy themes of life and death, but I try to express them beautifully rather than making it feel simply heavy or frightening when I dance,” Kang said.
“Cacti,” which premiered in 2010 and uses dance to satirize contemporary art and the culture of criticism, will feature Lee Sang-eun, a lead principal with English National Ballet.
The production will run from Friday to Sunday at the Haeoreum Grand Theater.
The summer homecomings continue with “Essai,” a contemporary production by Kimyonggeol Dance Theater, which will be staged at the Nowon Culture & Arts Center on Aug. 25 and 26.
Ballerino Park Youn-jae of the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company and the first Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne in 2025MAPO FOUNDATION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
“Essai” means “to try” in French. Built around the idea of bringing different thoughts and creative experiments to the stage, the production consists of eight short pieces, each with its own music and choreography.
The cast features Ahn and Park Youn-jae of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, who became the first Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne last year.
BY HA NAM-HYUN [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
