Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation to Present Seoul Ballet Theater's "The Nutcracker" on December 12-13

Seoul Ballet Theater Presents "The Nutcracker"

The Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation in Gyeonggi Province (CEO Park Heesung) will stage the quintessential Christmas ballet repertoire, "The Nutcracker," for families to enjoy together on December 12 and 13 at the Grand Theater of the Uijeongbu Arts Center.

Ballet 'The Nutcracker'. Provided by Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation

This performance, which adds Korean choreography and direction to the grandeur of classical ballet to create a unique version that delivers year-end inspiration, will be held as part of the "2025 Performing Arts Regional Distribution Support Project" by the Arts Management Support Center. Through the high-quality stage presented by the Seoul Ballet Theater, it will offer Uijeongbu citizens a special Christmas fantasy.

"The Nutcracker," which will be performed twice-at 7:30 p.m. on December 12 and at 3:00 p.m. on December 13 at the Grand Theater of the Uijeongbu Arts Center- is a two-act ballet based on German Romantic writer Hoffmann's fairy tale, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." With its dazzling stage and costumes, combined with Tchaikovsky's beautiful music, it has become a representative year-end ballet repertoire worldwide.

In particular, this Seoul Ballet Theater version, choreographed by James Jeon, faithfully reproduces the original 1892 choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with an emphasis on the surreal and fantastical aspects.

Unlike most domestic productions, where Clara is portrayed as an adult, this version features a young Clara who remains on stage in Act 2, enjoying the dances of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince, following the structure of the original premiere and providing a more coherent and delightful experience.

In Act 2, "The Land of Magic," Seoul Ballet Theater's distinctive direction stands out. Alongside the Dance of the Snowflakes and the Waltz of the Flowers, Korean choreography and direction are incorporated. Children perform the Bonbon Dance and sangmo spinning with the "Mother Ginger" doll, showcasing the beauty of hanbok and setting this production apart from others.

This performance not only offers the grandeur of classical ballet as reinterpreted for a modern audience since its 1892 premiere, but also adds a special touch with the freshness of new creation, harmonizing Korean choreography-such as dolls dressed in traditional hanbok and sangmo spinning-with the traditional ballet.

Park Heesung, CEO of the Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation, stated, "'The Nutcracker' is a classic year-end performance beloved by people around the world," adding, "We will continue to create a high-quality cultural and artistic environment so that citizens can joyfully conclude the year and feel pride as cultural citizens through this fantastic ballet performance."