Korean Ballet’s Performance Of ‘Swan Lake’ Breathtaking

Universal Ballet of Korea Tuesday, March 17, Spokane Opera House

A couple of thousand ballet fans took a rare opportunity Tuesday night to see a full-length Russian classic ballet performed in Spokane.

The enduring quality of “Swan Lake” is unquestionable; this ballet is considered among the finest ever created. The only risk in attending this performance was the unknown quality of the Universal Ballet of Korea, which is on its first North American tour.

Those who took a chance on the ballet troupe in order to see a story ballet performed full-length were, indeed, well-rewarded. Not only were there no disappointments at Tuesday’s performance, this Korean company offered up an evening of stunning moments that set a standard for ballet performances in this city.

There are certain elements dance fans expect of a performance of classical Russian ballet; perhaps the most crucial is well-trained dancers. There’s nothing more pleasing than a ballerina in peak physical condition cast in a role which best suits her body type and who understands that dance isn’t simply going through the motions in a technically correct manner. Sun-Hee Park, who danced the featured role of the swan Odette and the black swan counterpart Odile, could have been giving a lesson for ballet dancers in how to own a role. Park danced the swan exquisitely, bringing a musicality and timing to the role that made the audience gasp at the beauty of her dancing.

That said, this is far removed from a one-dancer show. Even the corps is loaded with talented dancers. Ji-Hoon Yum danced a striking court jester, and Jae-Hong Park is a strong Prince Siegfried, to name only a couple of dancers among a passel of accomplished performers.

That’s saying a lot because the costuming and sets could easily have overwhelmed all other aspects of this performance. Dancers were dressed in rich brocades, velvet, gold-braid trim, strings of pearls, chiffon and beaded bodices.

Through the years I’ve appreciated the elegant costumes Alberta Ballet uses in its annual staging of “The Nutcracker” in Spokane. Those pale when compared to the sumptuous gowns in Universal Ballet’s “Swan Lake.”

But the attire would have to be bold to stand up to the elaborate sets this company uses. From the autumn-hued leaves set against a backdrop of mountains to the swans gliding across the rippled lake and the palace scene with gold-trimmed lighted chandeliers, all were jaw-dropping beautiful.

Given these elements, it’s a credit to the Universal Ballet’s artistic directors, ballet masters and mistresses and the dancers that the dancing still took centerstage at this performance. Never during the evening were the costumes and sets distracting; rather, they became beautiful but passive backdrops for a performance that took my breath away.

It’s a long ballet - three hours with two intermissions. But in an audience thick with young girls who seemed to share a passion for dancing, as evidenced by much armwaving and hopping about in the aisles during the intermissions, I saw nary a person skip out early because it was a school night.

Indeed, why would they? For I don’t think I was the lone audience member to realize early on this was a performance event of a lifetime, one by which all other performances will be measured.

, DataTimes