Korean National Ballet

<Heo Nan Seol Heon–Su Wol Kyung Hwa>

Online streaming on the KNB YouTube Channel

Presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York, 

Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., and the Korean National Ballet

Friday, May 7, 8 pm ~ Sunday, May 9, 8 pm, 2021 (ET)

Korean National Ballet YouTube Channel 

48 hours of free streaming

No Ticket or RSVP necessary

Korean Cultural Center New York & Washington, D.C. and the Korean National Ballet (KNB) co-present an online streaming of the original ballet <Heo Nan Seol Heon-Su Wol Kyung Hwa>.  

Premiered in 2017, <Heo Nan Seol Heon-Su Wol Kyung Hwa> is a piece about Heo Nan Seol Heon’s life and her poems, who was a prominent Korean poetess of the mid-Joseon dynasty. 

“Su Wol Kyung Hwa (水月鏡花)” is a four-character idiom that refers to the moonlight reflected on the water and a flower in the mirror. This denotes a poetic, intangible atmosphere, one that is visible but cannot be touched, and beautiful beyond description.

Heo Nan Seol Heon was a prominent Korean poetess of the mid-Joseon dynasty. Born in a time when women were not recognized for their talent, she lived a tragic life, wasting away from neglect by her husband, the fall from grace of her family, and the death of her two children in infancy. She predicted her own death with a poem. Springing up from the harsh realities of her life, her poetry is a clear expression of her genius. While not appreciated during her time, it later gained the attention it deserved. 

Su Wol Kyung Hwa is a representation of two of her many poems, Gamu and Mongyu-Gwangsangsan, to reveal the hidden treasure of her poetry as well as her life that was both sad and beautiful.

Running Time: 60 Min 

(The performance video was filmed in May, 2017 at CJ Towal Theater, Seoul Arts Center)

Premiere: May, 2017

Cast: Shin Seungwon

Choreography: Kang Hyohyung

Artistic Director: Kang Suejin