The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will pay tribute to Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen (1932-2025), a leading figure in European contemporary ballet, with a program of three of his works marking the first anniversary of his death.
The company, run by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, will present "All for Hans van Manen" from Nov. 19 to 22 at the Sejong M Theater.
The triple bill will close the company's 2026 season, its second full season since it was founded in 2024.
The three works span roughly 25 years of van Manen's choreographic career, from 1971 to 1995.
The program opens with "Grosse Fuge," which will receive its Korean premiere. Set to Beethoven's composition of the same name, the ballet heightens the tension between male and female dancers while emphasizing the sculptural qualities of the human body.
"5 Tango's," set to music by Astor Piazzolla, combines classical ballet technique with the sensual energy of tango. "Kammerballett" explores relationships and shifting emotions among dancers through chamber music.
Kang Hyo-jung, a principal dancer with Semperoper Ballet in Dresden, Germany, will appear as a guest principal in "Kammerballett." Choi Young-gyu, a principal dancer with Dutch National Ballet, will join the cast of "5 Tango's."
The production will also introduce dancers selected for the company's upcoming season through a global audition in August. Mabelle Westrik of the Netherlands and Ariunbold Bilgude of Mongolia, chosen from about 50 international applicants from 24 countries, will perform alongside 19 dancers from the company.
Van Manen, who died on Dec. 17, 2025, created more than 150 works during his career and served as resident choreographer for Nederlands Dans Theater and Dutch National Ballet.
The choreographer also had a special relationship with the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet. In October 2024, shortly after the company was founded, it presented "Kammerballett" as its first international licensed production and gave the work its Asian premiere. The company continued the collaboration in 2025 with an Asian premiere of "5 Tango's."
“Hans van Manen's works have served as an important foundation for the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet as it develops its artistic identity," a company official said.
"The triple bill 'All for Hans van Manen' is a meaningful tribute to a master whose work has helped drive the company’s growth, as well as an opportunity to revisit his choreographic world."
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
