Sejong Center for the Performing Arts 2025 lineup features largest-ever in-house productions

Artistic directors and Ahn Ho-sang (center), CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts pose for a group photo during a press conference held on Seoul's Nodeul Island on Tuesday. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)
Artistic directors and Ahn Ho-sang (center), CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts pose for a group photo during a press conference held on Seoul's Nodeul Island on Tuesday. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, established last year as Korea's first and only public contemporary ballet company, enters its second year with an ambitious goal: establishing itself as a cornerstone of contemporary ballet on the global stage.

“The greatest challenge over the past year was building the company’s own repertoire,” said Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, during a press conference on Tuesday.

“But we’ve seen tremendous interest in the establishment of a (public) contemporary ballet company in Korea from overseas. This year, we plan to form an official committee to appoint an artistic director and actively engage with the global ballet community to find the right candidate.”

The artistic director, who will be selected based on both managerial expertise and international network, is expected to be appointed by the second half of next year. The position is open to all nationalities.

Sejong Metropolitan Ballet's 2025 season at the Sejong Center will open with "Decadance," choreographed by Ohad Naharin (March 14-23). Come late spring, the company will present the Asian premieres of Johan Inger’s "Walking Mad" and "Bliss" (May 9–18), works by the Swedish choreographer who won the prestigious Benois de la Danse award for best choreography in 2016.

The second-half of the year features two double-bills: Hans van Manen’s "5 Tango's" and Ryu Hoi-woong’s "No More" (Aug. 22-27), followed by Van Manen’s "Kammerballett" paired with Hue Young-soon’s "Under the Trees’ Voices" (Oct. 30-Nov. 2).

Eighteen dancers selected for the season will be joined by guest artists Lee Sang-eun, lead principal with English National Ballet, and Choi Young-gyu, principal dancer with Dutch National Ballet, who will make special appearances in select productions.

Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, speaks during a press conference held on Seoul's Nodeul Island on Tuesday. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)
Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, speaks during a press conference held on Seoul's Nodeul Island on Tuesday. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)

11 repertoires, 8 premieres

In addition to Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, the Sejong Center boasts six art groups -- Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra, Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre, Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theatre, Seoul Metropolitan Chorus and Seoul Metropolitan Opera -- whose 2025 season lineups were also announced Tuesday.

Introducing the season, Ahn noted that "the biggest concern has been the economic downturn and the weakening of consumer sentiment."

"We decided to focus on proven repertoires to deliver a compelling program this year. In times like these, audiences tend to opt for guaranteed purchases," he added.

Eleven productions have been selected from the center's repertoire, including SMT’s hit play "Toongso Whistles" and the SMDT’s "One Dance," a performance that sold out its run at New York’s Lincoln Center. Additionally, there will be eight premieres.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of SMTO, the nation’s first traditional music orchestra, founded in 1965. The orchestra will be celebrating the milestone with its 60th Anniversary Concert on April 18.

Other flagship projects for this year's programming include Syn Next, a contemporary performing arts series, and the Summer Festival, a series of outdoor concerts at Gwanghwamun Square.

The Sejong Center also plans to introduce its new Sejong Inspiration initiative. The series aims to offer audiences unique experiences that go beyond traditional performance spaces, such as an exclusive listening session, where audiences can enjoy music from the stage while lying down, taking advantage of high-end audio systems.

Seasonal ticket packages will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday, while sales of individual tickets will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6.

Ballet dancers from this season's Seoul Metropolitan Ballet pose for a group photo during a press conference held on Seoul's Nodeul Island on Tuesday. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)
Ballet dancers from this season's Seoul Metropolitan Ballet pose for a group photo during a press conference held on Seoul's Nodeul Island on Tuesday. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)