Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Principal dancer Shin Seung-won, left, talks about her choreography with fellow dancers, Joung Eun-young and Kim Ki-wan, right, during a practice session earlier this month. She will present her creative piece along with seven other members of the Korean National Ballet on July 27 and 28 at Seoul Arts Center's Towol Theater. Courtesy of Korean National Ballet |
By Anna J. Park
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."
 |
| Principal dancer Shin Seung-won, right, directs dancers in her original ballet piece "Go your own way" at the Korean National Ballet during a practice session earlier this month. Courtesy of Korean National Ballet |
It is the third time for principal dancer Shin Seung-won to showcase her choreographed work at the annual event. She presented her original works in 2016 and 2018, as well. Among female principals, she now has the most experience in showcasing her own pieces in this movement series.
Those who are familiar with her busy schedule as a principal ballerina and the fact that this "KNB Movement Series" performance is not mandatory to members would wonder why Shin continues to up for this annual choreography project over and over.
"I find choreography experiences are a great help to my ballet. It deepens and widens my perspective and thoughts about ballet works. As I certainly feel that these experiences nourish and develop my capabilities as a dancer, that is why I think I keep participating in this movement series," Shin explained.
"I feel I have grown and matured every time I finish this project. As my job requires me to present my inner feelings to the audiences very earnestly and effectively, these choreography/directing experiences always help."
She said she constantly pondered about her choreography and the entire stage setting since January, although concentrated preparation is mostly carried out during the two months prior to the performance.
With her piece for this year, "Go your own way," the ballerina said she wanted to ask her audiences questions about their lives, their ideas and directions.
"During my research, I stumbled upon French poet Paul Valery's saying that 'if you don't live the way you think, you will think the way you live.' And that was the exact message I wanted to express to audiences through my piece. I hope to provide audiences an opportunity to think about what kind of lives that they are leading; whether they are living their own lives or someone else's. I hope that my piece can provoke this thought among them," she explained, saying the theme came from her own conviction that it is right to live her life according to her own beliefs, ideas and values.
The natural sound of rain is used as part of her music for the stage. She recorded the sounds of the rain herself.
"It seems like the sound of rain comes differently according to my own moods. When I'm feeling good, the rain sounds uplifting, rhythmical and higher-pitched; when I don't feel good, the rain sounds sad or heavy. I think the sound of rain is just like a focused silence. Sentiments of the performance will be intensified according to audiences' own emotions," she said.
While Shin is in charge of choreography and directing, principal dancer Kim Ki-wan and soloist Joung Eun-young will be dancing on stage according to Shin's ideas. Shin handpicked the two dancers, as she thought they were the right people who can bring out her choreography the best.
"I was curious about the synergy created by Ki-wan's intense energy and Eun-young's pure, unpretentious movements," the ballerina said.
"In my first year at this movement series in 2016, I danced my own choreographed piece. But then I realized I couldn't focus enough during rehearsals. While I was dancing and directing at the same time, I could not easily get the whole picture of the work myself. Thus in my next choreography piece, I didn't dance, although it is the easiest to dance myself for what I had choreographed. Instead I focused on seeing the whole picture of the work, and it was very interesting," Shin added.
 |
| Principal ballerina Shin Seung-won, front, dances during Korean National Ballet's "Mata Hari" last year. Courtesy of Korean National Ballet |
She was promoted to principal dancer in 2017, eight years after she joined the national ballet company. With the scheduled departure of the national ballet's prima ballerina Kim Ji-young next month, Shin will be one of six principal dancers at the company, along with ballerinas Park Seul-ki, Kim Li-hoe, and ballerinos Lee Young-cheol, Lee Jae-woo and Kim Ki-wan.
"I feel more responsibility for each performance. As principal dancers lead the entire show, I always keep in mind to express the main character's feelings with sincere and earnest efforts, as well as more developed and mature dances. With more responsibility laid upon my shoulders, I follow the entire flow of a two-hour performance with more focus, by taking care of every small movement," she said, smiling.
Shin said she still feels the most happiness when she is dancing. Although ballet entails continual pain, she embraces it because she feels the most joy from ballet.
"I'm just happy when I am dancing. It is such a bliss that I get to do what I love the most as my job. Sometimes, when I am really into the ballet, I feel moments of extreme focus and euphoria. Those moments keep me going," she said.
"I want to be a dancer who can be remembered in audiences' hearts. For the goal, I dance every move from the bottom of my heart, pouring out my earnest feelings and emotions, so that I can meet with audiences with my sincerity."
 |
| Principal Dancer Shin Seung-won performs during Korean National Ballet's "Sleeping Beauty" earlier this year at the Seoul Arts Center. Courtesy of Korean National Ballet |
