‘Lake’ Dance Universal Ballet Of Korea Stops Off In Spokane For ‘Swan Lake’

Before we start talking classical ballet, we’ll get a few interesting but periphery details about the Universal Ballet of Korea behind us.

First, in Korea it’s known as the Universal Ballet Company of Seoul but is being called the Universal Ballet of Korea for its first American tour, thus attaining the status of representing an entire country. The tour begins in Los Angeles today, continues through Spokane Tuesday and includes a two-week run in New York City.

Second, the 52-member company is funded by the very wealthy Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church the church of Moonie fame which has members around the globe.

And, yes, Moon’s daughter-in-law, Julia H. Moon, is the company’s prima ballerina and will perform in the lead role when the troupe dances in Spokane. And on a daily basis, Julia Moon’s father, Bo Hi Pak, oversees the company.

Julia Moon was born Hoon Soon Pak in Washington, D.C., and was trained as a ballerina in the United States as well as England and Monte Carlo. She was betrothed to the Rev. Moon’s son Jueng Jin when Jin was killed in a car crash.

Although they were denied a physical relationship, Julia Moon is intent on preserving spiritual marriage with Jin. To this end, she dances for him. “When I dance, I’m communicating with my husband,” she told a Dance Magazine writer. “He’s not here physically, but he’s close in spirit.”

She also “had a son with Jin” by adopting a nephew (her sister’s child), with whom she spends a great deal of time.

None of these details, however, get in the way of the Universal Ballet of Korea performing classical Russian ballet, and doing it superbly, according to critics.

When founded in 1984, the company set its sights on dancing the world’s best-known classical ballets, most of which were created by the Russian masters.

Tuesday night at the Opera House, the troupe will stage the full-length “Swan Lake” choreographed by famed Russians Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa to Tchaikovsky music.

The ballet was debuted in 1877 in Moscow, Russia. Audience reaction was so negative, the dance was considered a disaster. Tchaikovsky didn’t live to see the second debut, in 1894 in St. Petersburg, Russia, where audiences embraced the ballet.

Since then, it’s been touted as one of the greatest dances of all time. Of the three full-length ballets Tchaikovsky wrote (he also created “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Nutcracker”), “Swan Lake” is considered the most emotionally evocative.

The story, briefly, revolves around a prince’s search for a bride. He finds her by a pond standing in the moonlight. However, a sorcerer has placed a spell on her, which allows her to take human form at night, but by daylight, she and her friends become swans. Of course, the ending involves lifting the spell.

Audiences will see no evidence of the Rev. Moon’s involvement in the company, says company artistic director Bruce Steivel, who will leave the troupe after this tour to take a job with the Nevada Dance Theatre in Las Vegas.

“Everyone’s going to try to bring up the Rev. Moon issue, and this is something we’re worried about,” Steivel said in a recent interview. “But the thing is, Universal Ballet is a company that is presenting beautiful art. We’re just very lucky that someone with Rev. Moon’s financial resources has the interest in ballet to give it his full support without any dogmatic strings attached.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON STAGE The Universal Ballet of Korea will perform “Swan Lake” Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Opera House. Tickets are $27, $25 and $20 ($20, $18 and $13 for students), available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.