The ballet "Shim Chung," based on a folk tale about a daughter's filial piety, returns to the stage this season in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

The beloved tale, performed by the Universal Ballet Company, will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House from June 10 to 18. Since its inception in 1986, the ballet has toured 13 countries, including cities in Russia, France and the U.S., as the main piece in the repertoire of the Universal Ballet Company.

A distinguishing feature of the ballet is the brilliantly colored traditional Hanbok costumes worn by the dancers, whose movements embody the graceful choreography of classical ballet. From the thatched Joseon-era style villages that form a backdrop in the first act, to the lavish palace grounds of the Sea King's underwater kingdom, "Shim Chung" unfolds a classic Korean tale in the language of dance.



In the first act, we meet Shim Chung, a kind-hearted daughter of a poor blind father. When the young girl learns that that 300 seoks, or bushels, of rice offered to Buddha could restore her father's eyesight, she sells herself to a group of sailors who need a human sacrifice to ensure a safe passage across the Indangsoo, a stretch of deep and perilous water.

"Most ballets have a love story at the forefront, but 'Shim Chung' presents the love that a child has for a parent," said Julia H. Moon, general director of the Universal Ballet Company. "I've seen audiences moved to tears while performing outside Korea, which shows that filial piety is a universal sentiment, felt by all, regardless of cultural differences."

Some highlights of the performance include the group dance between Shim Chung and the sailors in Act 1, the ensemble of court ladies that grace the underwater palace grounds in Act 2, and the moonlight pas de deux, or duet, between Shim Chung and the Sea King as they profess their love for each other in Act 3.

In celebration of the milestone anniversary, principal dancers that played Shim Chung throughout its 30-year run will return to the stage in cameo roles. In addition to General Director Moon, the audience will be able to catch a glimpse of Kim In-Hee, current director of Seoul Ballet Theatre, as well as ballerinas Park Sunhee, Jun Eun-sun and Kang Yena, all former principal dancers at the Universal Ballet Company.

More information on the production can be found at the link below.
http://www.sac.or.kr/program/schedule/view.jsp?seq=26319&s_date=20160610

By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Universal Ballet Company
hlee10@korea.kr