UBC dancer Ahn Ji-eun theatrically impressive in MacMillan’s interpretation of Shakespearean tragedy


While considered one of the greatest love stories of all time, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is also a coming-of-age story.

The piece is filled with adolescent rebellion; it deals with first love, loss of innocence, and the characters’ first efforts to separate themselves from their parents. The young lovers’ tragedy largely stems from having patriarchal, controlling parents, who ignore their natural needs and desires as youth.

Among many ballet versions of “Romeo and Juliet,” British ballet dancer and choreographer Kenneth MacMillan (1929-1992) particularly focuses on the process of growing up in a violent world. It follows the young characters’ loss of innocence, as they break their filial bonds in a desperate effort to be with each other. As a result, the piece demands a high level of emotional and psychological complexity from its dancers. They are required to be dance-actors, rather than simply showcase perfect posture and pointe work.

The Universal Ballet Company (UBC) last week opened its first run of MacMillan’s 1965 work, becoming the first Korean troupe to stage this particular version in Seoul. Tuesday’s performance showed off musically attentive dance acting, and MacMillan’s psychological insight and imagination showed through. The cast was led by Ahn Ji-eun as Juliet and Rhee Hyon-jun as Romeo.

The current run has been a tough challenge for the Ahn-Rhee duo. Ahn had initially been paired up with British-born freelance dancer Robert Tewsley, while Rhee had been cast as Tybalt. The two were assigned to perform the lead roles together just a couple days before the opening night, as Tewsley injured his leg during rehearsal.

Rhee and Ahn, however, showed great chemistry together Tuesday night, making it hard to believe they’d only practiced together for about two days before the opening of the run. Ahn, in particular, danced with abandon and flair. The 36-year-old dancer, whose forte has been theatrically-demanding roles such as Shim Chung, gave an engrossing performance in the first act as the childlike Juliet.

Throughout the piece, Juliet grows up and matures. Ahn was natural and convincing as Juliet from the beginning to the end. Her Juliet gradually transformed from the bubbly young girl in the first flush of love to the tragic heroine who ends up losing her lover, even after the desperate acts to be with him, which required betraying her own parents.

Some of the highlights of the show include the famous balcony pas de deux, as well as the final scene where a devastated Romeo dances with Juliet’s drugged body.

In spite of a number of flaws, including the quality of the jumps of the troupe’s male dancers, the show successfully delivered the essence of the MacMillan piece, especially his chorographic imagination and insightful interpretation of youth, fate and human tragedy.

“Romeo and Juliet” runs at Seoul Arts Center until Saturday.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)