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Seoul Metropolitan Ballet to bring curtain down in 2025 season with double bill

Published: 23 Oct. 2025, 12:19 Updated: 23 Oct. 2025, 19:06

Choreographer Hue Young-soon, left, demonstrates her piece ″Under the Trees’ Voices.″ [SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS]

Three generations of Korean ballet dancers who helped shape the country's international presence will share the stage in the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's 2025 season finale, opening next Thursday at the Sejong Center’s M Theater and running through Nov. 2.

The double bill pairs Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen’s “Kammerballett” with Korean choreographer Hue Young-soon’s “Under the Trees’ Voices.”

At a press conference on Wednesday at the troupe’s rehearsal studio on Nodeul Island in central Seoul, “Under the Trees’ Voices” choreographer Hue, “Kammerballett” director and performer Kim Ji-young and dancer Kang Hyo-jung, who performs in Hue’s work, spoke about their collaboration.

Hue, a trailblazer among the first generation of Korean dancers to build international careers, began performing in Europe in the 1980s. She danced as a soloist with the Zurich Ballet, Ballett Basel and Ballett der Deutschen Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany, before turning to choreography in 2001. Since then, she has presented 52 works at major companies around the world and currently serves as rehearsal director at Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany.

Dancers Lee Yu-beom and Kang Hyo-jung perform ″Under the Trees’ Voices.″ [SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS]

Kim, who trained at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, joined the Korean National Ballet in 1997 as its youngest member. In 2002, she joined the Dutch National Ballet, becoming the company’s first Korean principal dancer. Kang, formerly a principal at the Stuttgart Ballet and the Vienna State Ballet, now performs as a principal with Dresden’s Semperoper Ballett.

“Under the Trees’ Voices” is Hue’s latest work, dedicated to Italian composer and conductor Ezio Bosso (1971–2020). The piece is set to Bosso’s symphonic music.

“Ezio Bosso was a musician who deeply influenced my choreography,” Hue said. “Through this work, I wanted to share his music and his life.”

Kang, performing in a contemporary full-length ballet in Korea for the first time, said, “I’m happy to perform in Korea with the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre and to take part in Ms. Hue’s work.”

Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre member Lee Yu-beom plays the role of Bosso. “I’m exploring how to express Ezio Bosso’s character through my own interpretation,” he said.

Dancer Kim Ji-young performs ″Kammerballett.″ [SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS]

Van Manen’s “Kammerballett” — kammer means “small room” in German — highlights precise movements in an intimate space. The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre staged the piece last year as the first company in Asia to do so and brings it back this season.

Kim, who performed in the 2024 production, now returns as both director and performer. “Taking on the role of director allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Hans van Manen’s work,” she said. “I’m striving to deliver an even better performance than last year.”

Company member Nam Yun-seung, who also appears in “Kammerballett,” said, “I was unable to perform in August due to an injury while preparing for another Hans van Manen piece, so I’m happy to return to the stage with 'Kammerballett.'”

From left: dancers Lee Yu-beom and Kang Hyo-jung, choreographer Hue Young-soon, and dancers Kim Ji-young and Nam Yun-seung attend a press conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet rehearsal studio on Nodeul Island in Seoul on Oct. 22. [SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS]

All artists said they have witnessed growing recognition of Korean dancers on the global stage.

“When I was dancing, it was rare to see Korean performers abroad,” Hue said. “Now, top ballet companies around the world hold Korean dancers in high regard.”

Kim added, “As more talented Korean dancers emerge, I hope we establish a stronger support system so Korean ballet can continue to develop.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HA NAM-HYUN [[email protected]]