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| ▲ This photo, shows Ballerina Park Sae-eun, an etoile of the Paris Opera Ballet in France. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Lotte Concert Hall, shows Park Sae-eun performing. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Lotte Concert Hall, shows Park Sae-eun performing Romeo and Juliet. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- Ballerina Park Sae-eun, an etoile of the Paris Opera Ballet in France with a history of more than 350 years, will be visiting the Korean fans with her colleagues this summer.
At the "2022 Etoile Gala," a concert in Korea that is being held at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul from July 28th till July 29th, Park Sae-eun will be presenting major repertoires including "Romeo and Juliet" and the "Dying Swan," which has been performed at Opera Garnier and Opera Bastille for a long time in Paris.
"Romeo and Juliet" pas de deux (two members), where she danced with Paul Mark when she was chosen as an etoile last year, is particularly anticipated.
"It is true that I became more comfortable in dancing, but dancing is the same. I'm still happy dancing, and am working hard," Park Sae-eun, who joined as a junior in 2011 and became an "Etoile (meaning 'star' in French) last year after being promoted at a very high speed, said.
On the morning of the 18th in Paris, we met Park Sae-eun, who had arrived at the office of the Opera Garnier through the phone.
-- It has been a year since you have become an Etoile. What kind of changes were there?
▲ First of all, the number of performances has decreased. If I used to perform one act for 16-20 times before, but after I became an etoile, I only perform 4-6 times. I do feel a lot of responsibility as I take the lead role in major performances including the opening performance. However, in the dance itself, I feel a lot more comfortable and I feel like nothing have really changed much. I just practice as much as I did before.
- You're meeting the Korean fans really soon. How do you feel?
▲ I have been wanting to this gala for several years now. After thinking about it for a long time, I finally got to be on stage. It's actually the most anticipated show of this year. Along with Korea, I am also going to Los Angeles and Mexico. Particularly, the Paris Opera Ballet's official gala performance is scheduled for July 20th till the 21st at the Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor concert hall in Los Angeles, right after Giselle's performance this summer. I will be able to show my dance to the Korean Americans as well."
- How are you these days? I heard you are very busy taking on the lead role of "Giselle."
▲ I feel like 24 hours isn't enough. I don't think I have ever been this busy. I'll be performing "Giselle" in Opera Garnier on July 2nd, but this is my first time acting as Giselle. That's why I'm doing a lot of research, and it's even making me think that I'm crazy over Giselle. It's one of the hardest work that I've done till now. I also have another gala performance this week, so I'm practicing that too. Although I'm busy, I'm dancing energetically and happily ever."
-- How did things change after marriage? I heard he looks after you a lot.
▲ Having a husband is really reassuring. He's my mentor and my spiritual supporter. Sometimes I even say that "I couldn't have been an etoile if I didn't meet my husband."He knows Ballet so well that I sometimes think that my husband is a dancer. (Park Sae-eun's husband is a Korean French, working as a lawyer in Paris). It feels nice to have similar interests and I also enjoy going to concerts together. I feel very blessed.
-- I heard you also did a charity concert at the pediatric cancer ward in Paris.
▲ Yes, at the end of April, I enjoyed a good amount of time with the children at the Necker Children's Hospital in Paris. The children, who couldn't walk, lie or control their own body had twinkling eyes. Seeing the children laugh and say "I want to be a ballerina too" made me both happy and sad. I was just grateful that I was able to bring joy to the children with my dance. I would love to continue these, if I'm given the opportunity.
-- Not long ago, demi soliste Kim Hee-sun of Korea National Ballet passed away at an early age, and the fans fell into sorrow.
▲ It was really shocking for me because I knew her well personally. Kim Hee-sun not only danced well but danced hard and loved to dance. When I heard the news, I was shocked and sad. Dancers like us often have delicate and sensitive emotions, and she was one of them too. It's just really heart breaking and sad.
-- I'm sure there must have been a lot of trouble before you got to be where you are. Is there anything you would like to say to your juniors who are pursuing dance or art?
▲ If I look back at my life, it was a series of patience and waiting. I also had a lot of injuries. I just came here with the love of dancing. I really didn't think a lot about the result. I just wish one would feel the happiness and the reason when they're dancing. Isn't this why we're all dancing? Or will I become a "Kkondae (expression used in South Korea to describe a condescending person)" to my juniors for saying this?
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)
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