"I want to show my growth on stage."
Jeon Min-cheol, first soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet, will perform as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake on the domestic stage. The production, a collaboration between the Seoul Arts Center and the Universal Ballet Company, returns for its second season after a successful debut last summer. Jeon plans to showcase the growth he has achieved during his time at the Mariinsky.
At a press conference held on August 6 at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, Jeon stated, "I believe I can present the results of my first season at Mariinsky in this performance. I want to show the Korean audience the growth I have experienced while working hard in Russia."
In less than a year since joining the Mariinsky, Jeon has taken on leading roles in major works such as Giselle, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet. He noted that the most significant change he has experienced in Russia is in his acting.
"It was truly shocking to feel that every dancer at the Mariinsky tells a story through their character. They continue to express emotions with their bodies until the end of the performance. I have come to understand the importance of emotions and have tried to learn this quickly," he said.
Even the same movements convey completely different feelings when performed as Siegfried or Romeo. "In movements that refer to 'you,' the speed and strength alone can sufficiently explain the character," he added.
His daily life has also changed. While he spent most of his time in practice rooms in Korea, in St. Petersburg, Russia, he finds inspiration from watching performances and walking through the streets. "I get lost in countless thoughts," he remarked.
This transformation is expected to be evident in his performance of Swan Lake, his favorite work. "Every time I see this piece, I hear the words of the swan and the prince. It is also the work I have seen the most at the Mariinsky. I will focus on how to convey the necessary dialogue through movements and gestures in the story, such as the first meeting between the swan and the prince and the acting with the black swan," he said.
The audience's applause serves as his motivation. "I feel the love from the audience when they cheer so loudly during the curtain call that my palms hurt. When I leave the stage and Russian audience members tell me, 'I was so moved by your beautiful arms and gestures,' I feel their affection," he shared.
The performances will take place from August 14 to 23 at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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