Seoul Metropolitan Ballet to Stage Three Signature Works by Hans van Manen on First Anniversary of His Death

"Grosse Fuge" to receive its Korean premiere; "5 Tangos" and "Kammerballett" also on the program
Youngkyu Choi and Hyojung Kang join as guest principals; November 19-22 at M Theater

The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will present a program focused on the works of modern ballet master Hans van Manen, who died in December 2025.

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts announced on October 20 that the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will stage a triple bill titled "All for Hans van Manen" at the Sejong Center's M Theater from November 19 to 22, 2026. The program features three works by van Manen: "Grosse Fuge," which premiered in 1971; "5 Tangos," created in 1977; and "Kammerballett," created in 1995.

Since its founding, the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet has continued to present van Manen's works, maintaining a special connection with him. Shortly after its founding, in 2024, the company presented "Kammerballett" as its first international licensed work, giving it its Asian premiere. Last year, it gave the Asian premiere of "5 Tangos," and this time it will present the Korean premiere of "Grosse Fuge."

The order in which the three works will be performed was personally chosen by van Manen during his lifetime. On December 14, 2025, Sejong Center President Ahn Ho-sang visited van Manen at his home in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and discussed the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's growth and future collaborations. Van Manen died four days after meeting Ahn. Sejong Center said van Manen had personally selected the order of the works for this performance.

"Grosse Fuge," which the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will present in Korea for the first time, is based on Beethoven's "Great Fugue." The work translates the structure and rhythm of the music into precise movements, with choreography that evokes lines and geometric shapes.

"5 Tangos" combines Astor Piazzolla's tango music with classical ballet technique. Through powerful rhythms and restrained movements, it conveys the sensuality and tension characteristic of tango. Youngkyu Choi, principal dancer with Dutch National Ballet, will join the production as a guest principal dancer.

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's 2025 performance of "5 Tangos." Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

A photo from the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet Company's 2025 performance of "Kammerballett." Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

"Kammerballett" takes its name from the German word "Kammer," meaning "small room," and delicately portrays the relationships and shifting emotions between dancers in a confined space. Hyojung Kang, a principal dancer with the Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany, will join the production as a guest principal dancer.

Hans van Manen (1932-2025) was a choreographer who helped lead European contemporary ballet, serving as resident choreographer for Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT). Over more than 60 years, he created more than 150 works, which have been performed by over 100 dance companies around the world. He became known for choreography that combines restrained movement, precise use of space and exceptional musicality with the language of classical ballet.

This performance will be the first stage appearance for the dancers selected for the new season through auditions held in August 2026. Nineteen season dancers were selected in the auditions. About 50 applicants from 24 countries outside Korea also applied, and Mabel Vestrik from the Netherlands and Bilguude Ariunbold from Mongolia were selected.

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