Universal Ballet

UNIVERSAL BALLET, since 1984

Celebrating 39 years of breathtaking beautiful performances
Based in Seoul, Korea with dancers and staff from more than a dozen countries throughout Europe, the US and Asia, Universal Ballet embodies the blending of the grace and harmony of Asian thought and culture with the strength and beauty of western classical ballet. Dedicated to preserving the rich tradition of European classical ballet and at the same time following the trends in contemporary choreography, the company continues to be the leading force of ballet in Korea. Since its founding in 1984, the company, now led by General Director Julia Moon, Artistic Director Bingxian Liu, and Artistic Director Emeritus Oleg Vinogradov, has steadily gained fame and recognition.

Performing both at home in Korea and abroad, the 50 dancers in Universal Ballet present well known full-length classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Giselle and La Bayadère, as well as contemporary masterpieces such as Jiří Kylián's Petite Mort and Sechs Tänze, Nacho Duato's Multiplicity, forms of silence and emptiness, Na Floresta and Duende, William Forsythe's In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Hans van Manen's Black Cake, Heinz Spoerli's All Shall Be, Christopher Wheeldon's Variations Sérieuses and Ohad Naharin's Minus-7. During their 25th anniversary season in 2009, Universal Ballet added John Cranko's dramatic ballet Onegin to the repertory and then in 2012, Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet.

Universal Ballet owes its progress and success to a number of people who have invested in the company during its formative years. These include four American directors - founding Artistic Director Adrienne Dellas, and subsequent directors Daniel Levins, Roy Tobias and Bruce Steival. Universal Ballet inherited much of the rich ballet tradition of St. Petersburg between 1998 and 2007, while under the leadership of Oleg Vinogradov, former Artistic Director of the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg. Mr. Vinogradov now serves as Artistic Director Emeritus for the company.

Universal Ballet has won high praise for its success in combining Korean folklore with classical ballet in Shim Chung, and has presented this moving story of daughterly devotion worldwide. More recently, two additional Korean works, The Love of Chunhyang and Ballet Musical Shim Chung have been added to the company's repertory.
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Universal Ballet meet the world

487 overseas performances in 25 conties (1985-2019)

· 2019
Swan Lake in Paris (Palais des Congrès de Paris)
· 2018
The Love of Chunhyang in Bogota, Colombia
· 2017
Contemporary works in Kazakhstan
· 2015
The Love of Chunhyang (Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman)
Don Quixote ( Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Japan)
· 2014
Special Gala in Tokyo (U-Port Hall),
Shim Chung, This is Modern in Bogota, Colombia (TEATRO MAYOR - Julio Mario Santo Domingo)
· 2013
Swan Lake in Tokyo (U-Port Hall) and Contemporary works at the 11th International Bodrum Ballet Festival, Turkey.
· 2012
Contemporary works in Tokyo (U-Port Hall) and Taipei (The National Theater),
Swan Lake in Johannesburg (The Joburg Theater),
Shim Chung in Moscow (The Stanislavsky Music Academy Thatre),
Shim Chung in Paris (Le Palais des Congrès de Paris / September, 2012)
· 2011
Shim Chung in Taipei (The National Theater), Singapore (The Esplanade),
San Francisco (The War Memorial Opera House), Vancouver (The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts)
and Muscat (Grand Opening Festival of The Royal Opera House, Muscat),
Giselle in Tokyo, Yokosuka and Ichikawa in Japan.
· 2010
Contemporary works at the 8th International Bodrum Ballet Festival, Turkey. Shim Chung in 4 cities in Japan.
· 2009
21 performances of The Nutcracker at the Badminton Theater in Athens, Greece.
· 2006
The Nutcracker tour to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Shim Chung in 11 cities in Japan.
· 2004
US tour to N.Y. (Lincoln Center), L.A. (Kodak Theater) and San Francisco with Romeo & Juliet.
· 2003
Shim Chung and Romeo & Juliet in Paris, Cannes and Tours in France.
· 2002
Swan Lake and The Nutcracker in Thessaloniki, Volos and Veria, Greece.
· 2001
Swan Lake at Place des Arts, Montreal, Canada.
La Bayadère and Shim Chung in 3 major US Opera Houses: Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and LA Music Center.
· 2000
Sleeping Beauty and Shim Chung for five weeks in the US and Canada.
Swan Lake, Don Quixote and Giselle in six European countries:
England (Sadler's Wells Theatre), Germany, Switzerland, Hungary (State Opera House), Austria and Greece.
· 1999
Swan Lake and Giselle in Italy, Spain and Hungary (Hungarian State Opera House)
· 1998
Six week tour of Shim Chung and Swan Lake in the US and Canada, including New York City Center.
· 1996
Giselle and mixed program in 22 cities in Japan,
10 performances of Shim Chung in 4 cities in Taiwan (Sun YatSen Memorial Hall).
· 1995
10 performances of Swan Lake in 4 cities in Taiwan (Sun Yet Sen Memorial Hall), Shim Chung in 16 cities in Japan.
· 1985~1994
126 performances on 7 tours in 8 countries.

Universal Ballet’s Korean Performances

· 2019
Swan Lake / Minus 7+Imperfectly Perfect / Giselle / The Love of Chunhyang / Shim Chung / The Nutcracker
· 2018
Special Gala / Giselle / The Love of Chunhyang / Don Quixote / La Bayadère / The Nutcracker
· 2017
Giselle / Don Quixote / Shim Chung / This is Modern / Swan Lake / Onegin / The Nutcracker
· 2016
Swan Lake / Shim Chung / Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo & Juliet / Giselle / The Sleeping Beauty
This is Modern / The Nutcracker
· 2015
Nacho Duato's Multiplicity / Graeme Murphy's Giselle / La Bayadere / The Nutcraker
· 2014
30th Anniversary Special Gala / Nacho Duato's Multiplicity / Giselle / The Love of Chunhyang / The Nutcraker
· 2013
Swan Lake / Shim Chung / Onegin / This is Modern / Nutcracker (Seoul - 45 perfs. / Tour - 19 perfs.)
· 2012
This is Modern / Sleeping Beauty / Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo & Juliet / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 35 perfs. / Tour - 13 perfs.)
· 2011
Don Quixote / This is Modern / Onegin / Nutcracker (Seoul - 38 perfs. / Tour - 4 perfs.)
· 2010
Swan Lake / Shim Chung / This is Modern / La Bayadère / Nutcracker (Seoul - 46 perfs. / Tour - 20 perfs.)
· 2009
Don Quixote / La Bayadère / The Love of Chunhyang / Onegin / This is Your Life / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 50 perfs. / Tour - 22 perfs.)
· 2008
Giselle / Ballet Musical Shim Chung / Modern Ballet Project / Nutcracker (Seoul - 46 perfs. / Tour - 19 perfs.)
· 2007
Swan Lake / Julia Moon's Brunch Ballet / The Love of Chunhyang / Ballet Musical Shim Chung / Romeo & Juliet
(Seoul - 34 perfs. / Tour - 31 perfs.)
· 2006
Sleeping Beauty / An Evening of Contemporary Ballet V / Nutcracker (Seoul - 21 perfs. / Tour - 22 perfs.)
· 2005
Don Quixote / Contemporary Ballet Celebration / Giselle / Nutcracker (Seoul - 27 perfs. / Tour - 31 perfs.)
· 2004
La Bayadère / An Evening of Contemporary Ballet IV / Shim Chung / Nutcracker (Seoul - 25 perfs. / Tour - 21 perfs.)
· 2003
Peter & the Wolf / Allure: Four Colors of Contemporary Ballet / Don Quixote / Giselle / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 51 perfs. / Tour - 7 perfs.)
· 2002
Swan Lake / Romeo & Juliet / Sleeping Beauty / Nutcracker (Seoul - 25 perfs. / Tour - 22 perfs.)
· 2001
An Evening of Contemporary Ballet / Carnival of the Animals & Get to Know Ballet with Julia Moon / Shim Chung /
Contemporary Ballet: Freedom from the Tutu / Nutcracker (Seoul - 30 perfs. / Tour - 11 perfs.)
· 2000
Sleeping Beauty / Shim Chung / La Bayadère / Swan Lake / Don Quixote / Giselle / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 29 perfs. / Tour - 5 perfs.)
· 1999
Requiem & Classic Ballet Masterpieces / Giselle / Swan Lake / Shim Chung / Carnival of the Animals
and Get to Know Ballet with Julia Moon / La Bayadère / Nutcracker (Seoul - 50 perfs. / Tour - 7 perfs.)
· 1998
Harlequinade & Classic Ballet Masterpieces / Requiem & Contemporary Ballet Masterpieces / Don Quixote /
Nutcracker (Seoul - 23 perfs. / Tour - 13 perfs.)
· 1997
Don Quixote / Paquita, Handel Celebration, Pulcinella / Napoli Divertissements & La Sylphide / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 26 perfs. / Tour - 13 perfs.)
· 1996
Sleeping Beauty / Giselle & Contemporary Works with SueJin Kang / A Midsummer Night's Dream /
An Evening with Balanchine and Choo San Goh / Nutcracker (Seoul - 30 perfs. / Tour - 19 perfs.)
· 1995
Balanchine Evening / A Tribute to Roy Tobias: Coppelia & Triple Bill Raymonda, Handel Celebration, In the Mood /
Shim Chung / Nutcracker (Seoul - 2 perfs. / Tour - 6 perfs.)
· 1994
Carnival of the Animals, Cakewalk / Sleeping Beauty / Shim Chung / Swan Lake / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 27 perfs. / Tour - 15 perfs.)
· 1993
La Sonnambula, Paquita, Pulcinella / Carnival of the Animals, Graduation Ball / Swan Lake / Giselle /
Serenade, Gloria Celebris, Wedding Party / Nutcracker (Seoul - 39 perfs. / Tour - 19 perfs.)
· 1992
Serenade, Prometheus / La Fille mal Gardee, Carnival of the Animals / La Sylphide / Swan Lake / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 48 perfs. / Tour - 9 perfs.)
· 1991
Lady of the Camellias / Coppelia / La Sonnambula, Paquita, Festival Variations / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 39 perfs. / Tour - 4 perfs.)
· 1990
Spring Ballet Festival / Giselle / Shim Chung / Nutcracker (Seoul - 38 perfs. / Tour - 6 perfs.)
· 1989
Marche Joyeuse, La Fille mal Gardee / Serenade, Firebird, Cakewalk / Lady of the Camellias / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 23 perfs. / Tour - 2 perfs.)
· 1988
Concert Waltzes, Raymonda Pas de Dix, Swan Lake Act II / La Sylphide / Princess Aurora, Le Combat, Cakewalk /
Shim Chung / Nutcracker (Seoul - 44 perfs. / Tour - 3 perfs.)
· 1987
Giselle / Les Sylphides, Allegro Brillante, Graduation Ball / La Fille mal Gardee / Shim Chung / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 42 perfs. / Tour - 2 perfs.)
· 1986
Requiem, A Time There Was, Spanish Twilight, Angels Descending / La Sylphide / Shim Chung / Nutcracker
(Seoul - 28 perfs. / Tour - 3 perfs.)
· 1985
Giselle / Apollo, Joie de Vivre, Proust, Flames of Paris Pas, Paquita Serenade, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux,
Joie de Vivre, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux / Coppelia (Seoul - 10 perfs.)
· 1984
Cinderella / Serenade, Black Swan Grand Pas, Ulysses - His Return / Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture,
Paquita Grand Pas de Deux (Seoul - 10 perfs.)

What the press has to say about Universal Ballet

Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times

"... astounding precision and attention to stylistic detail... the corps [moving] in riveting unison... can put even internationally ranked companies to shame."

Clive Barnes, Dance Magazine

"Universal Ballet, which this past summer had considerable success in a European tour through Hungary, Italy and Spain, is emerging as a major player in world dance."

Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times

"Whether performing a stylized Kirov specialty or a home-grown essay... Universal Ballet of Korea has one impressive advantage over nearly every American company. All the dancers embody the identical concept of classical style, the identical sense of placement, line, technical finesse. Whatever their individual talent or training, they speak the same movement language - an amazing accomplishment."

Roger Salas, El Pais, Madrid

"An Unforgettable Night. The presentation of Giselle by the cast of Universal Ballet was, without a doubt, a surprisingly unforgettable night of great ballet.... The public gave a standing ovation to the ballerina and to the entire company."

Zsuzsa Kaan, Art of Dance, Budapest

"The miracle in the history of dance has occurred: the ideal beauty conceived in the Russian ballet theater at the end of the 19th century is adopted and shown to the world by Koreans at the end of the 20th century."

George Jackson, The Washington

"The women aim for lyricism and extended linearity, and the men for heroic strength. It is unusual to see a male corps with such cohesion and cushioned power as this company's."