Interview: Rising ballet stars step into tragedy of 'Giselle'

Few works in the classical ballet canon are as enduring or as emotionally charged as “Giselle.” A quintessential romantic masterpiece, the ballet tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl named Giselle, who falls in love with a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht, only to die of heartbreak upon discovering he is betrothed to another. While the first act is filled with youthful first love, celebration and a radiant atmosphere, the second act marks a dramatic shift, unfolding at Giselle’s grave, stee

April 17, 2025

Han Kang to publish first book since Nobel Prize win

South Korean writer Han Kang is set to release her first new book since receiving the Nobel Prize in literature. The essay collection, titled "Light and Thread," will be published later this month, available in bookstores starting April 24, according to publisher Moonji Publishing. The book takes its title from Han’s Nobel lecture, which she delivered at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm last Dec. 7. Spanning 172 pages, the collection includes around 10 essays and poems, including this Nobel lect

April 17, 2025

Family-friendly concert presents magical adventure where kids meet traditional Korean instruments

In the enchanted “Forest of Instrument Trees,” a vibrant scene comes to life. As haegeum and piri musicians perform with flair, their puppet counterparts proudly mimic their movements. Yet, off to the side, the daegeum murmurs in low spirits, “Unlike other instruments, I’m hollow inside, so I can’t play a big role." But the young hero Seonyul intervenes. “Because you’re hollow, there’s room for the sound to travel. Song carves a path through the heart." Encouraged, the daegeum steps forward with

April 15, 2025

Ahn Eun-me unveils bold interpretation of Asia with ‘Post-Orientalist Express’

Choreographer Ahn Eun-me, long celebrated as a one-of-a-kind force in Korean contemporary dance, will premiere her latest production, "Post-Orientalist Express," at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' M Theater on May 2-4. A vibrant culmination of her yearslong exploration of Asian identities, "Post-Orientalist Express" marks the final chapter in Ahn’s ambitious “Asia Project,” which began in 2018. The 62-year-old choreographer, whose flamboyant style and boundary-pushing vision have defi

April 15, 2025

Singapore’s leading dance company blurs borders, boundaries with ‘Infinitely Closer’ in Seoul

As Singapore and South Korea mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the Singapore Embassy in Seoul, in collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Arts Council has turned to the arts to underscore the two countries' enduring ties. On April 24, Singapore’s leading contemporary dance company, T.H.E Dance Company, will bring its groundbreaking production “Infinitely Closer” to Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, offering a

April 14, 2025

National Contemporary Dance Company heads to Europe with 'Jungle'

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will embark on a European tour this May with "Jungle," choreographed by the company’s artistic director, Kim Sung-yong. The first stop is Stockholm, where the piece will be performed May 4 at the Oscar Theater to mark the second anniversary of the Korean Cultural Center in Sweden. In London, Jungle will open the 8th edition of A Festival of Korean Dance, taking place May 7-8. The annual event is co-hosted by the Korean Cultural Center UK and contempo

April 13, 2025

Actor Chae Si-ra steps on stage as dancer in 'Pure Heart'

Veteran actor Chae Si-ra, celebrating her 40th year in entertainment, is making an unexpected return to the stage -- as a dancer. Chae will appear in a special role in "Pure Heart," a new traditional dance production by the National Jeongdong Theater, running May 8 to June 28 at Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul. "Pure Heart" sheds light on the classic Korean pansori folktale "Simcheong-ga," in which the heroine, Sim Cheong, sacrifices herself so her blind father can see and ventures into the u

April 13, 2025

Breathe, sip and spoon: 3 spots to recharge this weekend

If life gives you berries, try going for an acai bowl filled with fruit and your favorite toppings. Every weekend, a large crowd usually spills into the streets of Apgujeong Rodeo, a popular neighborhood in the posh Gangnam district of southern Seoul, which boasts streets full of luxury brands, curated shops and fine dining restaurants. In a small alley there, you can also find a dessert shop called A-ha Dosan that offers a frozen acai bowl with oats, honey, strawberries, bananas and choco loops

April 11, 2025

AHAM Art Project reimagines Lorca’s 'Bernarda Alba' in ballet

AHAM Art Project, led by dancer and choreographer Ham Do-youn, will present its latest production, "Bernarda Alba," at the Daehakro Arts Theater this Saturday and Sunday. Choreographed by Ham, the ballet is inspired by "The House of Bernarda Alba" (1936), the final work of Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca. Set in a small Andalusian village in the 1930s, the story unfolds within the suffocating confines of a mourning household. Following the death of her second husband, Bernarda Alba impo

April 3, 2025

'Beauty' paints new portrait of Korean aesthetics

Star-studded creative team of Leenalchi composer, Vogue Korea stylist and aespa music video art director join forces for National Dance Company's new project Throughout history, art has captured the essence of beauty as it evolves over time. In Korea, when one thinks of the traditional concept of beauty in art, Miindo ("Portrait of a Beauty") by Sin Yun-bok -- believed to have been painted between the late 18th and early 19th centuries -- often comes to mind. Over the centuries, the depiction of

April 3, 2025