Korean National Ballet shines bright in Balanchine’s ‘Jewels’

Dancers shine like rubies within the Korean Nationwide Ballet’s “Jewels” on stage throughout its run of the efficiency from Feb. 25 to 27 on the Nationwide Theater of Korea in central Seoul. The corporate selected the Balanchine masterpiece to have a good time the start of its sixtieth anniversary. [KNB]

 
George Balanchine’s non-narrative ballet “Jewels” is an formidable alternative for ballet firms. For the Korean Nationwide Ballet, much more so.
 
Korea has a large and ever-growing balletomane group, however it nonetheless has a comparatively younger historical past of ballet. This explains why “Jewels” made a long-awaited debut in Korea solely final yr. Some voiced considerations that it might be a bit too early for a non-narrative repertoire with out tried-and-trusted plots. Nonetheless, the debut staged by the Korean Nationwide Ballet in October 2021 was an enormous success, profitable each vital acclaim and recognition. In spite of everything, the Korean ballet viewers was greater than able to “see the music, hear the dance,” similar to the immortal quote by Balanchine.  
 
Kang Sue-jin, the world-renowned dancer-turned-artistic-director for the corporate, once more shocked the critics earlier this yr as she picked “Jewels” once more this February. Not solely as a result of it felt slightly too quickly, as solely 4 months have handed because the October performances, but in addition as a result of it occurred to be this yr’s very first stage by the Korean Nationwide Ballet. This yr additionally marks the corporate’s sixtieth anniversary, which naturally means quite a bit.
 
The Korean Nationwide Ballet salutes this yr with 10 repertoires, formidable not solely in amount but in addition in high quality. But it surely was neither classics like “Swan Lake” (October) and “Giselle” (November) nor the corporate’s superbly rendered originals just like the “KNB Motion Sequence 7” or “Heo Nanseolheon” that have been chosen to go first. As a substitute, Kang handpicked “Jewels” to have a good time the start of this necessary yr.  
 
Final week’s performances on the Nationwide Theater of Korea proved that her alternative was proper. What was instantly noticeable was that the dancers seemed extra relaxed with this pure dance choreography. For final yr’s premiere, Balanchine’s repetiteur Sandra Jennings traveled to Seoul. Together with her educating, dancers of the Korean Nationwide Ballet digested the quintessence of the Balanchine poetry, which requires completely different — thus demanding — actions like port de bras. Jennings instructed Han Jung-ho final yr that she was impressed by the “power” of the corporate’s “wild” dancers. It offers you a sure pleasure to see how dancers developed to the Balanchine choreography below Jennings.  
 

A scene from “Emeralds” of the “Jewels” by the Korean Nationwide Ballet. Dancers visibly get pleasure from being on stage. [KNB]

 
And the dancers didn’t waste the final 4 months. This February’s performances proved that. Final yr, the dancers seemed fairly formidable. They have been visibly keen and tense — in a great way — on stage. This yr, nevertheless, the dancers confirmed off a extra polished, softer-around-the-edges efficiency. They’ve been like sponges to soak up Jennings’s teachings, they usually have change into one. They weren’t simply dancing like Balanchine. They have been the “Jewels” itself.
 
For one factor, the dancers didn’t look merely formidable on stage. They seemed extra pure. Kim Ki-wan — brother of the Mariinsky principal Kim Ki-min — shines in “Emeralds” with extra composure and beautiful expression. Shin Seung-won, the corporate’s star principal, couldn’t have had a extra becoming farewell efficiency than in her important function in “Emeralds.” In the meantime, “Rubies,” which could be a bit difficult with its pleasantly whimsical and superbly unconventional choreography, confirmed spectacular progress. From principals like Park Seul-ki to the corps-de-ballet Jung Eun-ji, all dancers present nearly immaculate approach.  
 

A scene from “Diamonds” of the “Jewels” by the Korean Nationwide Ballet. [KNB]

 
What deserves consideration is the chemistry amongst dancers. Particularly within the magnifique stage of “Diamonds,” what appealed to the viewers was not simply the gorgeous grand pas de deux by the principals like Kim Li-hoe and Joung Eun-young. The euphony of all dancers on stage added an emphatic glitter that was quintessential. You could possibly inform that the corps members have been pouring their all into the efficiency. Attaining this regular stage of high quality of ensemble on stage is far simpler mentioned than performed, mirroring the years-long effort by the dancers themselves, workers members on and off the stage and the creative director.  
 
All in all, “Jewels” this yr offers you the arrogance that there can be extra Balanchine performances obtainable in Korea. The Balanchine ballet is usually referred to as the poetry of dance. The newest efficiency of “Jewels” by the Korean Nationwide Ballet was the reply to anybody who questions whether or not the nation is prepared for such poetry. Korea is able to “See the music, hear the dance.”
 
The author is a JoongAng Ilbo workers reporter. 

Chun Su-jin [chun.sujin@joongang.co.kr]