‘Endless Voyage’ to showcase Lee’s original choreography
By Lee Hyo-won
Many arts and culture experts point out how narrow-sighted it is to think that K-pop and TV dramas are all there is to “hallyu” (Korean wave) content, and an arts center is stepping forward to explore the possibilities of fine art genres such as dance.
With this is mind, Seoul Arts Center (SAC) will open the New Year by inviting stars of top Korean dance troupes to perform together this week.
“Endless Voyage,” to be staged Wednesday and Thursday at the Opera Theater, will not only provide a rare opportunity to see principal dancers of the National Dance Company of Korea, Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) and Universal Ballet Company (UBC) on the same stage, but also premiere original choreography, sets and music by some of the country’s iconic artists.
During the past couple of years the local arts scene witnessed an unprecedented “ballet fever”: local productions enjoyed sell-out performances for the first time and also garnered mainstream appeal through popular TV programs featuring dance, while budding young Korean talent triumphed in international competitions and forayed into top-tier companies.
There have been many gala shows featuring highlights of popular ballet productions or local premieres of modern imports catering to the growing number of fans — but rarely has there been such an ambitious project showcasing something altogether new.