Internationally acclaimed ballet company Mariinsky Ballet kicked off its much-anticipated Seoul run of Tchaikovsky classic “Swan Lake” on Sunday at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

The famous ballet tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. She tries to break the curse with her love interest Pince Siegfried, but fails when he is tricked by the cruel magician.

The renowned Russian troupe was founded in the 18th century and is now considered one of the world’s greatest ballet companies. Its last visit to Seoul took place back in 2004. 

“All of the ballet troupes in the world have their own principal dancers,” said Yuri Pateyev, the troupe’s artistic director, during a press conference at the Russian Embassy in Seoul on Friday.

“But at our company, all of the dancers, including corps de ballet members and soloists, have the ability that’s equivalent to our principal dancers. All of our dancers are superstars.”

The three-day run features three different pairs of the troupe’s dancers for each day.

Award-winning ballerina and Mariinsky principal dancer Ulyana Lopatkina will be performing on Monday, paired with Daniil Korsuntsev, who joined the troupe in 1998 and was promoted as a principal dancer in the same year.

Lopatkina, who is noted for her musicality and superb techniques, won the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse in 1997, and received the honorary title of People’s Artist of Russia in 2006.

Korean dancer Kim Ki-min, who became the first Asian male dancer to join the Mariinsky Ballet in 2011, will be performing the role of prince Siegfried on the last day of the run, on Nov. 13. The 20-year-old was promoted as the troupe’s soloist earlier this month.

“It is my first show in Seoul as a Mariinsky dancer,” said Kim during the press meeting. “I’d really like to give the best performance I can give.”

The three-day ballet run will be presented with music performed by Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. First founded in 1783 during the reign of Catherine the Great, it is one of the oldest musical institutions in Russia. “Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and Mariinsky Ballet understand each other the best,” said the orchestra’s conductor Pavel Bubelnikov. “I think this will be a great run.”

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)