Seonhwa Arts School 50th Anniversary Alumni Dance Festival 'Footprints Become a Path'

On September 1st at the Universal Art Center Grand Theater

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Seonhwa Arts Middle and High School, prominent figures from the dance community who graduated from Seonhwa, including Kang Su-jin, director of the National Ballet Company, and Moon Hoon-sook, director of the Universal Ballet Company, will gather in one place.

On September 1st, the Seonhwa 50th Anniversary Alumni Dance Festival "Footprints Become a Path" will be held at the Universal Art Center Grand Theater.

Seonhwa Arts Middle School and Seonhwa Arts High School were founded 50 years ago, originating from the Little Angels, opening in 1974 and 1977 respectively. Since their establishment, they have stood as a central pillar in Korea’s arts fields such as dance, music, and fine arts, producing many artists who lead K-Culture.

To mark the 50th anniversary, Seonhwa Arts Middle and High School plan to hold various events including the alumni dance festival "Footprints Become a Path," the Seonhwa Alumni Music Festival, and the Seonhwa Alumni Art Exhibition.

During the "Footprints Become a Path" performance, the Korean dance segment will feature "Three Traditional Rhythms" by An Byung-joo (1st graduating class, Head of Dance Department at Kyung Hee University, holder of Pyongan Province Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 3 Kim Baek-bong Fan Dance), "Butterfly Sleep" by Yoon Soo-mi (8th graduating class, professor at Dongduk Women’s University Dance Department, president of the Korean Dance Association), and "Fan Hyun-geum" by Seol Ja-young (16th graduating class, head of the dance department at Seonhwa Arts High School). Performances by current students of Seonhwa Arts Middle and High Schools will also be presented.

In the ballet segment, performances include "Spring Waters" by Shim Hyun-hee (31st graduating class) and Heo Seo-myeong (30th graduating class) from the National Ballet Company; "AREPO" by Lee Seung-min (44th graduating class) from Korea National University of Arts; "Chanbiga" by Lee Dong-tak (28th graduating class), Kang Min-woo (29th graduating class), Lee Seung-min (34th graduating class), and Lim Sun-woo (39th graduating class) from Universal Ballet; "Mirinae-gil" by Kang Mi-sun (23rd graduating class) and Lee Hyun-jun (25th graduating class); "Prince Siegfried’s Variation from Act 1 of Swan Lake" by Jeon Min-cheol from Korea National University of Arts, who will join the Mariinsky Ballet as a soloist next February; and "Linked," performed by 90 current students of Seonhwa Arts Middle and High Schools.

The contemporary dance segment will showcase "00Re:Uri," choreographed by six alumni and performed by 25 dancers.

Notable dance alumni of Seonhwa Arts Middle and High Schools include Kang Su-jin (director of the National Ballet Company), Moon Hoon-sook (director of Universal Ballet Company), An Byung-joo (professor at Kyung Hee University), Kim In-hee (founding director of Seoul Ballet Theater), Park Jae-geun (chairman of the Korea Ballet Foundation), Park Jae-hong (president of the Korea Ballet Association), Lee Yeon-soo (professor at Dongduk Women’s University), Kang Hye-ryun (professor at Kyonggi University), Seo Hee (principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre), Kim Hye-jung and Park Mi-young (professors at Dankook University), Yoon Soo-mi (president of the Korean Dance Association), Choi Hyun-joo (professor at Sangmyung University), and Kim Jeong-min (vice director of Rieul Dance Company).

Moon Hoon-sook, director of Universal Ballet Company and chairperson of the organizing committee for this performance, said, "Now that the trees we have nurtured for 50 years have become a forest, this stage will allow us to feel the growth and pride of Seonhwa dancers. Through this performance, we will be able to witness the further development of Seonhwa dancers."

Choi Hyun-joo, professor of Cultural Arts Management at Sangmyung University and the overall planner of the performance, stated, "Expressing Seonhwa’s 50 years on one stage is challenging but very meaningful. Through the footprints of the past 50 years, we will create a stage of growth and blessing that opens the next 50 years of Seonhwa’s future."