ABT brings 104 members including 16 principal dancers
The American Ballet Theatre will mark the opening of the GS Arts Center in Seoul with a sweeping program of classical and contemporary works, highlighting the company’s wide-ranging mixed repertoire and artistic versatility.
ABT has brought a company of 104 members, including 70 dancers — 16 of whom are principal dancers — to Korea for this highly anticipated engagement. The lineup also includes five Korean dancers: principal dancers Seo Hee and Ahn Joo-won, soloists Han Sung-woo and Park Sun-mi, and corps de ballet member Seo Yoon-jung.
From Friday to Sunday, the company will present a mixed repertoire program, with a different lineup each day that spans choreographic milestones from the 20th century to the present.
"Normally Korean audiences expect a full-length ballet, but what’s so exciting about our mixed repertoire is that audiences will see the full range of talent from our principal dancers to the corps de ballet, in a dynamic blend of classical and contemporary works," said Susan Jaffe, ABT’s artistic director and the first woman to lead the company, during a press conference Tuesday at the GS Arts Center.
The repertoire reads like a curated “tasting menu,” as ABT Executive Director Barry Hughson put it, offering a wide range of styles and moods.
Audiences will be treated to George Balanchine’s "Theme and Variations" (1947), a hallmark of neoclassical ballet and a signature work in ABT’s repertoire; Twyla Tharp’s dynamic "In the Upper Room" (1986); and Mercurial Son (2024), a new contemporary work by Kyle Abraham. Also on the program is "La Boutique" (2024), a fresh creation by emerging choreographer and former ABT dancer Gemma Bond.
Interspersed throughout the day's program are pas de deux from "The Sleeping Beauty," "Great Galloping Gottschalk," "Sylvia" and "Sinatra Suite," as well as "Neo," a duet that explores the intimacy and innovation of contemporary ballet.
The rotating programs and multiple casts are designed to show the versatility of ballet.
“I feel like that keeps people's attention more. So each time a new work is shown, it keeps your eyes fresh,” said Jaffe, adding that audiences can return and experience something new -- whether it is the same dancer in different pieces or the same piece with different casts.
Seo Hee, the first Asian principal dancer in ABT’s history, who has been with the company for 20 years, shared her excitement about the homecoming.
“It’s been a long time since I performed in Korea as a member of a ballet company. I’m thrilled to perform here with my fellow dancers and share it with everyone."
Reflecting on her two decades with ABT, Seo said, “I wouldn’t say the 20 years gave me confidence, but rather a sense of pride. I’ve dedicated myself to this work like a craftsman, staying focused on my path, and that brings me so much pride.”
Ballerino Ahn also expressed his enthusiasm for the performance.
“All the programs are ones I found inspiring and shocking when I first saw them in the US. I hope audiences in Korea will love them too,” said Ahn.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
