Starting from November 8th, the 2023 Seoul Ballet Festival took place around Seokchon Lake for 5 days. International ballet companies and citizens together enjoyed the Seoul International Ballet Week. It featured 10 invited organizations from 9 countries worldwide, along with more than 200 domestic dance groups coming together through dance. Above all, the festival held significant meaning as a platform for cultural exchange, with high-level ballet companies from around the world playing a role in connecting Seoul with the global dance community. Starting with the opening ceremony on November 8th, performances by invited ballet companies from both domestic and international backgrounds, attracted the attention of many citizens with its diverse performances and citizen participation programs.
University Ballet Festival
The ‘University Ballet Festival’ was an event that took place on the second day of the festival. Due to bad weather conditions, a few of the performances were postponed to the third day. The universities that participated in the festival were Kangwon National University, Dongduk Women’s University, Sangmyung University, Seoul Christian University, Sungshin Women’s University, Korea National University of Arts, and Korea National Sport University. All the teams that participated showed beautiful and elegant skills, making the audience in awe. Out of these universities, CAH was lucky enough to interview two.
Interview with Dongduk Women’s University team
Q: What motivated you to participate in the performance today?
A: After the suggestion of our professor, we decided to participate in order to help make ballet more accessible to the public.
Q: What performance did you prepare?
A: We revisited the piece we showcased in our first-semester creative presentation, titled "A Broken String”. Fourteen sophomore students collaborated on this project. The work, born out of creative exploration, uses marionette puppets to symbolize contemporary individuals constrained by obligations, portraying the yearning for freedom through the liberated movements of a marionette puppet with a severed string. Our intention was to craft a performance that resonates with the struggles of modern life, hoping it brings a sense of solace and the possibility of freedom.
Q: Were there any challenging aspects while preparing the piece?
A: Since this was not the first time we performed this piece, there were no particular technical difficulties. However, since it had been done a few times before, we tried to put in extra effort to deliver a more polished performance.
Q: Were there any specific aspects you paid extra attention to while preparing for the performance?
A: We tried to focus on a lot on facial expressions and emotional acting beyond the completeness of the choreography itself. Since it was a group performance, we also emphasized synchronization and making sure everyone was in sync. Additionally, since it was a piece we had performed many times before, we concentrated more to ensure that we didn't become complacent and stayed focused during the preparation.
Q: Do you have any expectations for this performance?
A: I hope the audience enjoys the performance.
Interview with Sungshin Women’s University
Q: Could you provide a brief explanation of the performance you will be presenting today?
A: Today, we have prepared a performance called "Rose Pas de Quatre." It is a brief ensemble piece derived from the ballet "Awakening of Flora." Each of us takes on the role of a goddess, portraying the flower goddess Flora, the dawn goddess Aurora, the moon goddess Diana, and the innocent goddess Hebe, all dancing together.
Q: What motivated your participation in this festival?
A: We decided to participate based on our professor's recommendation.
Q: Were there specific aspects you focused on while preparing for this performance?
A: Since this was a piece we had performed before, we dedicated ourselves to improving it through extensive practice. As each of us was responsible for portraying a single character, we paid attention to highlighting individual characteristics within the choreography.
Q: Were there any memorable episodes during rehearsals?
A: Balancing rehearsals for this with those for another performance we were preparing for at school posed a challenge due to overlapping schedules. Despite limited rehearsal time, everyone put in a tremendous effort and exhibited a high level of passion for the piece, leading to a well-executed and beautiful performance.
Q: Ballet is often perceived by the general audience as "difficult to approach." What are your thoughts on this?
A: While ballet may seem challenging to approach, recent efforts to enhance accessibility, such as free performances and events like today's, contribute to unexpected encounters with ballet. As such initiatives become more prevalent, ballet may gradually become a more accessible art form, fostering a greater connection with audiences.
The romantic view of Seokchon Lake, coupled with the polished performances from university students, has brought joy to numerous citizens. CAH extends its support and cheers for all the universities that actively participated in the performance.
People’s Ballet Gymnastics: Events with Citizens
The ‘People’s Ballet Gymnastics’ is an event where citizens gather on the spot to enjoy gymnastics using simple ballet movements. This citizen participation event easily draws people in with the charm of ballet, which may have seemed a bit challenging at first. Lasting approximately 30 minutes, the event took place on an outdoor stage at the West Lake of Seokchon Lake, ensuring that citizens out for a walk could easily join in. Set to the familiar national gymnastics music that many may have heard during their school days, the event introduced citizens to the joy of ballet through simple movements like 'en bas,' ‘en haut,' and more. Taking place on a weekend morning, the event attracted many citizens out for exercise around Seokchon Lake, and it was heartwarming to see them joyfully participating. Moreover, the harmony of the natural surroundings and the lighting around the lake added an extra dimension, creating an unforgettable experience that blended art and exercise for the audience.
Ballet in the Forest Music Concert – Ballet with Music
The "Ballet in the Forest Music Concert" was an event based on the theme of "Ballet Through Music.” This event, held in the forest surrounding the lake, offered a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of nature and music together. Citizens could watch the performance against the backdrop of the lake on a stage set in the forest. The live performance by a trio of flute, piano, and violin, enthralled the audience with vibrant, live sounds. In line with the event's title, "Forest Music Concert," various animals and fairies appeared within the ballet performance, accompanied by Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals" as background music. The music also enhanced the immersive experience. This music concert, where ballet met music, provided citizens with a wonderful opportunity to enjoy art in nature, and to escape from their daily routine, finding leisure amidst the natural surroundings.
The 2023 Seoul Ballet Festival is an opportunity for ballet companies and citizens to come together. Through this event, CAH had the chance to enjoy ballet performances of leading arts schools, and various performances related to ballet. We were able to learn more about ballet not just as a traditional art form, but also as a medium to explore various cultural and artistic expressions. Therefore, the 2023 Seoul Ballet Festival was an especially meaningful event.