🩰 Back in Ballet Shoes After 42 Years! Park Sang-won's Nutcracker Challenge - 2026.11.04🩰 Back in Ballet Shoes After 42 Years! Park Sang-won's Nutcracker Challenge - 2026.11.04

Hello, fans!

Today we have news from a ballet challenge outside the professional dance world. Seoul Culture Foundation Chairman Park Sang-won is putting his ballet shoes back on 🩰 ^[1]

Ballet Shoes After 42 Years 👟

Park Sang-won enrolled in the theater department of Seoul National University of Arts in 1978 and explored modern dance, ballet, and Korean dance. He also served as a member of the Seoul Municipal Music and Dance Troupe ^[1]. His last ballet stage appearance was 'THE CAGE' at the National Theater of Korea in 1984, which means it has been 42 years ^[1]! Since he is best known as an actor, this is even more surprising 😲

Drosselmeyer in Universal Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' 🎄

In December, he will take the stage in Universal Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' as Drosselmeyer ^[1]. According to the article, Drosselmeyer is a character reflecting composer Tchaikovsky, a key figure who leads Act 1 by gifting Clara a nutcracker ^[1]. Performances run from December 17 to 30, and he will appear in five of them ^[1].

Within Korea, this is the oldest and first-ever non-professional dancer casting ^[1]. Park said the role is rich in dialogue and theatrical expression, but since it includes dance movements such as lifting Clara, he is paying special attention to his physical condition ^[1]. His words, "It won't be easy to perform with the same physical conditions as young dancers, but I am thinking about a Drosselmeyer only Park Sang-won can show," really show his sincerity 😍 ^[1]

A 'Player' Beyond the Stage 🎭

Park stressed that as a 'player,' his role is to suggest directions so Seoul citizens can enjoy arts and culture more easily and closely ^[1]. The Seoul Culture Foundation was established in 2003 as a Seoul city-affiliated organization and supports artists, creation, and creative spaces ^[1]. The article also introduced ideas such as the 'Seoul Arts and Culture Forum' and the 'Daerak(樂)-ro' concept to extend the Daehak-ro viewing experience ^[1].

Fan's One-Line Review 💬

Ballet is thrilling to watch, but stories of people who breathe on stage themselves are a different kind of emotion. Check the performance info for this December's 'The Nutcracker' and catch Drosselmeyer live if you can! I'm ready to replay the curtain call a hundred times 🩰✨

📰 Reference News (1)

1

Chairman Park Sang-won Returns to Ballet Shoes After 42 Years

네이버뉴스 · 2026.11.05

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