Seoul, South Korea – The Universal Ballet is set to captivate audiences with its timeless masterpiece, 'Swan Lake,' at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater from July 19 to 27, 2025. This highly anticipated production, co-presented by the Seoul Arts Center and Universal Ballet, promises to be a highlight of the season, notably featuring the acclaimed international ballet superstar Daniil Simkin.
'Swan Lake,' a pinnacle of classical ballet, masterfully combines Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's iconic score with the enduring choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. First premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877, the ballet's definitive version emerged from the 1895 Mariinsky Theatre revival. It weaves a poignant tale of love, betrayal, and transformation, centered on Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess cursed to live as a swan. The ballet is renowned for its enchanting lakeside corps de ballet, the dramatic contrast of Odette (the white swan) and Odile (the black swan) performed by a single ballerina, and the breathtaking technical demands, including the iconic 32 fouettés. Universal Ballet first premiered this work in 1992 and has since toured it to 12 countries worldwide, earning critical acclaim for its artistic excellence and widespread appeal.
A major draw of this production is the participation of Daniil Simkin, often hailed as the "Prince of Competitions" and a "flying dancer." Born in Novosibirsk, Russia, Simkin's illustrious career includes significant tenures as a principal dancer with the Vienna State Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (promoted to principal in 2012), and Staatsballett Berlin. He has graced stages across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, performing leading roles in a vast repertoire, including 'Giselle,' 'Don Quixote,' and 'The Nutcracker.' While he has performed in Korea for galas, this engagement marks his debut as a principal in a full-length production in the country.
Simkin will share the stage with Universal Ballet's principal dancer, Hong Hyang-ki, a ballerina celebrated for her delicate expressiveness and exceptional technique. Hong, who joined Universal Ballet in 2010 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2018, has garnered critical and audience praise for her powerful portrayals in works such as 'Giselle' and 'Shim Chung.' Her repertoire also includes leading roles in 'The Nutcracker,' 'Don Quixote,' and 'La Bayadere.'
The production will feature a rotating cast of five principal couples, showcasing a blend of established stars and rising talents. These include Kang Mi-sun and Lee Hyun-jun, Hong Hyang-ki and Daniil Simkin, Hong Hyang-ki and Lim Sun-woo, Lee Yu-rim and Konstantin Novoselov, and Jeon Yeo-jin and Lee Dong-tak. Notably, emerging artists Lee Yu-rim, Lim Sun-woo, and Jeon Yeo-jin will make their official main stage debuts through this performance, marking them as promising next-generation talents.
A Universal Ballet representative stated that this production reimagines the original four acts of Petipa-Ivanov into two acts and four scenes, enhancing the dramatic tension and pacing. The representative emphasized that the contrasting black and white corps de ballet in the Act 2 lakeside scene is poised to be particularly visually striking, promising to enthrall the audience.
Tickets for the performances range from 30,000 KRW to 140,000 KRW, with a running time of approximately 150 minutes, including an intermission.
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