Mariinsky Ballet's Jeon Mincheol to Perform in Universal Ballet's "Swan Lake"

Performing at the Seoul Arts Center This August

Jeon Mincheol, the first soloist of Russia's Mariinsky Ballet, will take the stage in Universal Ballet's "Swan Lake" at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater from August 14 to 23.

Jeon Mincheol attracted attention last year as the second Korean male dancer, after Kim Ki-min, to join the world-renowned Mariinsky Ballet. His entry was particularly notable because he joined not as a member of the corps de ballet but as a first soloist. Soon after joining, he made headlines by debuting as the male lead Solor in "La Bayadere."

This production is part of the "Summer Season Core Repertoire Collaboration Project," which the Seoul Arts Center and Universal Ballet have presented since last year. For the second consecutive year, the two institutions are jointly staging Swan Lake.

According to the Seoul Arts Center, last year's jointly produced Swan Lake achieved an average seat occupancy rate of 95.6% per performance, receiving an enthusiastic response.

2025 'Swan Lake' Performance. Seoul Arts Center, (c) Universal Ballet

Swan Lake is a quintessential classical ballet, combining Tchaikovsky’s majestic music with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Alongside "The Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker," it is considered one of the three great masterpieces of classical ballet. Timeless elements such as the mesmerizing corps de ballet of swans by the mystical lakeside, the splendid palace sets and costumes, the jester's demanding technical feats, the lead ballerina’s dual role and 32 fouetté turns, and the character dances from various countries allow audiences to fully experience the beauty of ballet, making it a beloved classic across generations.

Universal Ballet first premiered Swan Lake in 1992. Since then, the production has become a signature repertory for the company. Following its North American debut in 1998 and European debut in 1999, Universal Ballet's 2019 performance in France sold out every seat, demonstrating the work's continued international acclaim.

For last year’s Swan Lake, Universal Ballet completely renewed its stage costumes for the first time since the premiere. Costume designer Galina Solovieva, formerly of the Mariinsky Ballet and designer of the original costumes, participated in a three-year design process, resulting in approximately 150 new costumes.

This year, a total of 11 performances will feature six different couples, each presenting their own interpretation and unique appeal. Jeon Mincheol will take the role of Prince Siegfried, partnering with Universal Ballet principal dancer Hong Hyanggi. The two previously performed together as leads in "La Bayadere" and "Giselle." This will be Jeon Mincheol’s third time leading a full-length ballet on Universal Ballet's stage.

Other prominent Universal Ballet stars such as Lee Hyunjun, Lee Dongtak, Elizaveta Cheprasova, and future leaders of the company including Lee Yoorim and Lim Seonwoo, as well as rising talents like Seo Hyewon, Jeon Yeo-jin, Lee Seungmin, and Yoo Juhyung are also set to grace the stage. Notably, Seo Hyewon, Yoo Juhyung, and Lee Seungmin will be taking on the lead roles in a full-length Swan Lake for the first time in their careers with this production.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.