Ballerina Kim Juwon Appointed Artistic Director of Busan Opera House Ballet Company

Upcoming November Performance of New Work 'Shining Wave'

Ballerina Kim Juwon has been appointed as the artistic director of the 'Busan Opera House Ballet Company,' EMK Entertainment announced on the 4th.

Busan City is preparing to open the Opera House in 2027 and is also working on establishing a resident arts organization for the Opera House. Artistic Director Kim Juwon will lay the foundation for Busan City's ballet company by nurturing members and producing works.

Kim Juwon plans to select members through auditions and prepare a new work titled 'Shining Wave' starting this September. Composed of Part 1 classical ballet and Part 2 creative ballet, Shining Wave is scheduled to be performed on November 15-16 at the Sky Theater in the Busan Cinema Center.

Ballerina Kim Juwon [Photo provided by EMK Entertainment, (c) Park Gwiseop (BAKI)]

Born in Busan, Kim Juwon also led the 'Busan Metropolitan City Ballet Workshop' last year. She graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia and joined the National Ballet Company as a principal dancer in 1998, where she was active for 15 years. In 2006, she received the highest female dancer award at the prestigious Benois de la Danse. In 2012, she served as a judge for the Benois de la Danse.

After leaving the National Ballet Company, Kim Juwon has been actively involved in works such as 'Magritte and Armand,' 'Tango Ballet - 3 Minutes: Su Tiempo,' 'Four Gentlemen - Seasons of Life,' 'Dear Luna,' and 'Reverence.' She is currently a professor at Seoul Cyber University, dedicating herself to training the next generation.

Kim Juwon expressed, "I find it meaningful that a ballet company has been established in Busan where we can communicate and comfort through ballet," adding, "I am excited and happy to work with excellent ballerinas and ballerinos." She continued, "I hope that the art of 'ballet' can become a warm and moving wave like a shining wave for the citizens of Busan and, furthermore, for all people in the world."

Meanwhile, Busan City will hold an open recruitment for members to participate in 'Shining Wave' from the 19th to the 26th. Detailed information can be found on the Busan City website.