Interview: Rising ballet stars step into tragedy of 'Giselle'

Riding standout 2024, soloists Lee You-rim, Lim Sun-u soar into 2025 with a story of romance, regret and redemption
Few works in the classical ballet canon are as enduring or as emotionally charged as 'Giselle.'
A quintessential romantic masterpiece, the ballet tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl named Giselle, who falls in love with a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht, only to die of heartbreak upon discovering he is betrothed to another.
While the first act is filled with youthful first love, celebration and a radiant atmosphere, the second act marks a dramatic shift, unfolding at Giselle's grave, steeped in grief, regret and a subdued emotional palette, as if shrouded in mist.
Running Friday through April 27 at Seoul Arts Center, Universal Ballet's upcoming production 'Giselle' will mark the debut of two promising soloists -- Lee You-rim as Giselle and Lim Sun-u as Albrecht -- who will perform together on Sunday evening and Wednesday.
'It's a classical ballet, but the acting is just as important as the dancing like a drama ballet. Every step and every glance carries meaning, ' said Lee in a recent interview with The Korea Herald.
Lee described Giselle's journey as a stark transformation, from an innocent village girl to a spirit still tethered by love.
'In Act 2, I want it to feel like you're watching a ballet underwater -- subdued, flowing, as if everything is soaked in grief. Even the port de bras feels like it's dripping with water, like tears falling from every gesture.'
For Lim, the shift in Albrecht's arc is just as profound.
'At first, he's just flirting, drawn to a beautiful girl,' he said. 'It's only in the second act, when he sees Giselle again as a spirit, that he realizes what real love is. That's when remorse and true love really set in.'
While 'Giselle' is often remembered for its lyrical serenity, it is physically intense, Lim explained.
'There are a lot of jumps, and it's easier to jump when you're happy, but more challenging to express that sadness while jumping. I think the audience will find it interesting to see the contrast between Act 1 and Act 2.'
Breakthrough year of 2024
Lee and Lim first shared the stage as leads in 'The Nutcracker' last year, and 'Giselle' is their second full-length ballet as a romantic duo.
Both had a standout 2024, setting personal and professional milestones that saw them leap farther into the spotlight.
Lee, who danced with the Hungarian National Ballet for seven years before joining Universal Ballet in 2023, gained recognition last year for her performances as Juliet in Kenneth MacMillan's 'Romeo and Juliet' and Nikiya in 'La Bayadere.'
'I don't know if I've ever had a year so full of happiness. It was everything I had hoped for as a dancer -- new roles, new challenges and the opportunity to keep learning.'
Julia Moon, general director of Universal Ballet, at a press conference for Romeo and Juliet" had highlighted Lee's emotional depth as one of her strengths. Lee secured the role through an audition.
'There are scenes the audience doesn't see on stage -- what happened just before, or what might happen afterward -- and I try to imagine all of that. I think it makes the emotions more real. Even when I step onstage from the wings, I'm not just 'entering' as a character. I try to already be in it.'
Lim, too, is savoring an emotional comeback. A former child performer who, at age 11, played Billy in the Korean premiere of the musical 'Billy Elliot,' he made headlines again in 2017 when he placed eighth at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. But shortly after being promoted to demi-soloist at the Universal Ballet Company in 2020, he suffered a serious shin injury that sidelined him for nearly three years. Last year, he made a dazzling comeback, performing as Bluebird in "Sleeping Beauty" and Golden Idol in "La Bayadere."
'Just being able to dance again made last year incredibly special for me,' Lim said.
He was tentative at first, dancing everyday with the constant fear: 'What if it happens again?'
Rehearsing as the Bluebird in "Sleeping Beauty" -- he was injured performing that very role back in 2020 -- brought everything back, he recalled. "But by the end of the year, I was finally able to move with more ease," he said.
Above all, the two dancers hoped their performance in 'Giselle' resonates with audiences as a source of solace.
'We dance because it makes us feel joy. And I hope the audience can feel that too,' said Lim.
'People make time to come to the theater -- not just to be entertained, but because they're seeking something more. Maybe comfort, or a kind of emotional connection. I hope 'Giselle' can offer that,' added Lee.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com

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