keguri

I can't remember the name of the dancer in the performance of SB that I saw in Chicago, but I remember that she was a soloist, and seemed very petite. Was that Seh Yun Kim?

I was in Chicago in 2000 when the UB came to the lyric opera, but I saw Sleeping Beauty instead, so I was glad to finally be able to see this.

Originally commissioned for the Universal Ballet of Korea in 1986, "Shim Chung" is uniquely associated with the company. More than any other work in the Universal Ballet's repertoire, it realizes the company's mission of combining the grand style of the 19th century Russian Romantic ballet with a Korean sensibility. Based on a traditional Korean folk tale of the same name, "Shim Chung" exemplifies the concept of filial piety (Hyodo), perhaps the most central virtue of Korean Confusianism. The present production is new, and, in addition to a sumptuous and charming set, it features a film of underwater dancing, projected between on the curtain between the second and third and third and forth acts. Yena Kang performed the lead role. A former soloist with American Ballet Theater and now a principal dancer with UB, Ms. Kang is captivating and charismatic ballerina. With her strikingly long limbs, she has a beautiful Romantic line. There is a wonderfully lyrical quality to her dancing, and her arabesques are magical. The corps de ballet is a great strength of the Universal Ballet. The sailors in the second act, and the male sea-creatures in the third act danced with considerable vigor and impressive leaps. The female dancers displayed wonderful synchronization and attention to detail. Even the angle of their hands seemed perfectly coordinated. There is no single male lead, but instead Shim Chung is partnered by different dancers in each of the four acts. Of these, the Sea Dragon King, an amiable version of Rotbart, gave a especially powerful and memorable performance.

Thank you! I'm going to see "Shim Chung" --- a ballet based on a traditional Korean folk-tale --- on Sunday with Yena Kang, formerly of ABT, in the lead. I'll write a short "review" afterwards...

Hi, I'm new to "Ballet talk." I've been interested in ballet since graduate school in Chicago, when I started studying ballet as an adult and also became an avid balletgoer. I took class 3-4 times week, and saw perhaps dozens of performances a year (Joffrey Ballet, visiting companies, sometimes also ABT and City Ballet in NY). When I moved to Seoul about 4 years ago, I thought I would never take ballet class again. But last February, I realized I really needed to get in shape --- and, much to my surprise, I also discovered that there is a really great "Adult ballet" community in Korea. There are several studios here that cater exclusively to adult students, with excellent instruction --- and even though I am sometimes the only man, and almost always the only foreigner, I feel quite comfortable (I know only rudimentary Korean, but this matters surprisingly little) And I've also started attending performances of local companies, including Universal Ballet and National Ballet of Korea. I'm also a lover of classical music and opera, but for me, ballet has a special, indescribable charm and power.