A promotional poster for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo's "LAC" performance / Courtesy of Labora Arts Planning
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is set to return to South Korea in May, presenting the domestic premiere of "LAC," a contemporary reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s "Swan Lake." The production, choreographed by artistic director Jean-Christophe Maillot, marks the company’s fifth visit to the peninsula.
The tour begins May 13 at Hwaseong Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province, moves to Seoul Arts Center Opera House on May 16 and 17, and concludes May 20 at Daejeon Arts Center.
The production will be attended by Maillot and Princess Caroline of Monaco — also known as Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover — who established the ballet company in 1985. Her visit is described as a private engagement in her capacity as company president.
"LAC," which premiered in 2011, strips away the traditional veneer of the 19th century fairy tale. In its place, Maillot and Prix Goncourt-winning writer Jean Rouaud have constructed a psychological drama centered on childhood trauma and familial tension. The aesthetic is defined by the stark scenography of French street artist Ernest Pignon-Ernest and costumes by Cesar Award winner Philippe Guillotel.
The musical direction is provided by Igor Dronov, veteran conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre, who will lead the Korea Coop Orchestra.
For local audiences, the engagement carries additional weight due to the presence of An Jae-yong, who joined the company in 2016 and became its first Korean principal dancer in 2019. The ensemble also includes two other Korean members, Yi Soo-yeon and Shin A-hyun. Casting for the specific performance dates has not yet been finalized.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo traces its lineage to Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, which operated out of Monaco in the early 20th century. Princess Caroline refounded the troupe in honor of her mother, Princess Grace, and later consolidated the company with the Princess Grace Academy and Monaco Dance Forum.
Ticket prices for the four-city engagement range from 80,000 won to 250,000 won.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
