Indian Dancer's Love Story Returns to Korea

In celebration of the successful American tour for the Universal Ballet (General Director Julia H. Moon), "La Bayadere" is to go on stage each night at 7:30 p.m. from June 26 through 29 in the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center.

The Universal Ballet's first performance of "La Bayadere" took place at the Sejong Cultural Center in November, 1999. It won a favorable reception, with each performance selling out. Costumes and stage lighting has been improved and the stage has become even more enchanting.

Created by renowned Russian choreographer Marius Petita in 1877, "La Bayadere" was first performed by Russia's Kirov Ballet. Universal Ballet will also be reproducing the original Kirov version under the supervision of artistic director Oleg Vinogradov, former artistic director for the Kirov Ballet.

Production costs of "La Bayadere," which is comprised of three acts and five scenes, range up to $714,000, the highest ever in Korean ballet history, and the piece provides a variety of spectacles and fantastic group dance sequences.

by Kim Hyun-jeong