The Korea Times: [INTERVIEW] Principal ballerina Shin Seung-won gives sneak peek of upcoming choreography project

By Anna J. Park

24 July 2019

Korean National Ballet’s principal dancer Shin Seung-won is preparing for an upcoming performance this weekend. This time, though, she won’t be taking center stage; she is choreographer and director of her seven-minute creative ballet piece, titled “Go your own way.”

During a recent interview with The Korea Times, the principal ballerina said she feels a different sort of happiness from being a choreographer instead of a dancer.

“When I see my choreographed piece on stage, it feels very rewarding; when I’m dancing as a ballerina, I become delightful and joyous. They are two different feelings, yet both are somewhat linked, and both precious. In other words, choreography is like raising my own children, and dancing ballet on stage makes me feel alive and immensely happy,” the ballerina said.

Shin is one of the eight Korean National Ballet members who will be showcasing their own modern ballet works, choreographed by themselves, during “KNB Movement Series 5,” set for this Saturday and Sunday afternoon at Seoul Arts Center’s CJ Towol Theater.

In 2015, the national ballet jump-started the “KNB Movement Series,” an annual showcase presenting newly-choreographed modern ballet pieces by the ballet company members. Ballet dancers who participate in the annual performance not only need to choreograph every movement, but also direct all elements of the set, from lighting and costumes to music.

Principal Dancer Lee Young-cheol has been participating in this annual show every year, with his own creative ballet works. This year, he presents “Season: Spring,” a ballet inspired by the image of a long trail covered with fallen cherry blossom petals. Other works include soloist Song Jung-bin’s “Amadeus Concerto,” Demi-Soloist Kim Myung-kyu’s “3 Tables” and Corps de Ballet Kang Dong-hui’s “Bad Guy.”

Read the full article in The Korea Times.