Courtesy of KNB
Major ballet companies across the globe are gearing up for the holiday season with the festive return of the iconic ballet, "The Nutcracker." Originating from Ernst Hofmann's 1816 children's story, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," the ballet enchants audiences with a vibrant stage, dazzling costumes, and the familiar melodies of Tchaikovsky's score.
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| ▲ A scene from the Korean National Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker”, Courtesy of KNB |
The Korean National Ballet, presenting Yuri Grogorovitch's rendition created for the Bolshoi Ballet in 1966, will perform in various locations, including Daejeon, Gwangju, and the Opera House of the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. The performances, featuring the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, showcase a stellar lineup of principal ballet dancers.
Meanwhile, the Universal Ballet Company is set to stage the Mariinsky Ballet version that premiered in 1934, created by Vasily Vainonen. The company's 37th season includes performances in Jinju, Goyang, and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The lineup of principal dancers at UBC boasts six pairs, including Benois de la Dance winner Kang Mi-sun and her husband Konstantin Novoselov.
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| ▲ A scene from the Universal Ballet Company’s production of “The Nutcracker”, Courtesy of UBC |
Wise Ballet Theater, a private ballet company in Korea, presents a unique adaptation of "The Nutcracker" at various venues in December. Artistic director Hong Sung-wook has re-choreographed the piece, incorporating street dance styles like breakdancing and tap dancing while maintaining the essence of Marius Petipa's original choreography.
Bulgaria's Sofia City Ballet, led by artistic director Yordan Krastev, is scheduled to perform "The Nutcracker" at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) on December 22-23. This marks the ballet company's second visit to Korea since their 2014 performance of "Swan Lake" at the Sejong Cultural Center in Seoul.
Sayart
Joy, nunimbos@gmail.com
