🩰 From Seoul Ballet's Triple Bill to a Silla Dance Drama: This Week in Ballet & Contemporary Dance! - 2026.10.20 | Modern Dance / Ballet

Hello, fans! 🍂

As autumn deepens, the stages are getting richer. Today we've gathered ballet and contemporary dance news. Let's go through them one by one! 🩰

🩰 Seoul Ballet to Present Hans van Manen Triple Bill

Seoul Ballet is preparing a program that spotlights the works of choreographer Hans van Manen, hailed as a legend of European contemporary ballet ^[1]. The title is 'Hans van Manen Triple Bill.' A triple bill presents three works in one evening, so you can enjoy several styles at once 😋 The news that Choi Young-gyu, principal dancer of the Dutch National Ballet, will join the program has us excited 💓 ^[1]. The article is cut off in the middle, so please check the original for the full program details!

🎭 Traditions of Silla and Joseon Meet on One Stage

On the 29th, 'Millennium Forever: Silla's Outing' will take the stage at Naru Arts Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul ^[2]. Part 1 revives 'Yeongyeongdang Jinjakrye,' regarded as the essence of Joseon court jeongjae, while Part 2 is a dance drama set at Bunhwangsa Temple, telling the stories of Queen Seondeok, Wonhyo, Princess Yoseok, and Seolchong ^[2]. The work was originally staged in 1828 by Crown Prince Hyomyeong at Yeongyeongdang in Changdeokgung to celebrate his mother Queen Sunwon's birthday ✨ ^[2]. It was also presented at a special stage at Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju during the APEC summit last year, and it earned praise ^[2].

The cast is exciting too. Jang Hye-rim, a dancer from 99 Art Company, plays Queen Seondeok, and Kim Gyu-nyeon, a star dancer from the dance competition program 'Stage Fighter,' plays Seolchong ^[2]. In addition, winners of the Seoul International Dance Competition, the first and largest dance competition in Korea, will also take the stage ^[2]. 🏆

🖤 'Chum-i Malhada,' Choreographer Ahn Ae-soon's Lecture Performance

'Chum-i Malhada' is the signature work of choreographer Ahn Ae-soon, which began in 2013 as a planned production of the National Modern Dance Company ^[3]. It is known for establishing the lecture performance format in Korea's performing arts scene. Simply put, it is a stage where the performers speak like a lecture while also expressing through their bodies 🎤 ^[3]. According to the article, it goes beyond showing flashy results or achievements and speaks about each person's body ^[3]. News that a representative Korean actor and choreographer will share a stage also makes this one a must-see ^[3].

🍁 Autumn at Jeongseon Jeongamsa Temple: Contemporary Dance at Jeok-myeol Bogung

From the 23rd to the 25th, the '2026 Jeongseon Jeongamsa Founding Culture Festival' will be held at Jeongamsa Temple and the Manhangjae Mountaintop Garden ^[4]. On the 24th, contemporary dance company 'R.se dC' will perform 'Simwudo, Searching for the Mind' at Jeok-myeol Bogung, followed by a temple concert ^[4]. Contemporary dance at a thousand-year-old temple already sounds like a perfect match 🙏 The concert will feature horn player Kim Hong-bak with Seoul Horn Ensemble, tenor Kim Jeong-hun, soprano Choi Ye-seul, and pianist Yun Mo-yeong, presenting classical music ^[4].

🥁 Sejong Folk Arts Festival: Ballet and Contemporary Dance Meet Poetry

On the 24th, the '2026 Sejong Folk Arts Festival - Art Narsha!' opens at the Pine Grove Garden in Sejong Central Park ^[5]. In the main performance at 7 p.m., 'Art, Narsha on the Top of the World!', gugak, string ensemble, percussion, chorus, ballet, and band come together ^[5]. A children's ballet performance is also planned to lift the festival mood 🩰 ^[5]. In the second performance centered on poetry, Korean dance and contemporary dance will bring the emotions of poems to the stage, so it's perfect for fans who love genre-crossing dance ^[5]. The festival is free for all citizens, so why not drop by on an autumn outing? 🍂

This week's stages were so diverse. Ballet, contemporary dance, and traditional dance all arriving in one week is a blessing for fans! Which performance are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments 💕