Swan Lake Showdown: National Ballet vs. Universal Ballet, Ending with The Nutcracker
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
South Korea’s two leading companies, the National Ballet and Universal Ballet, have announced contrasting 2026 seasons that invite direct comparison. Both will present Swan Lake (a classical ballet) — the National Ballet staging Yuri Grigorovich’s grand, dramatic version in April, and Universal Ballet offering a lyrical, Mariinsky‑inspired interpretation in August at Seoul Arts Center Opera House. In autumn, Universal brings The Sleeping Beauty (October) emphasizing Petipa’s courtly style, while the National Ballet offers Giselle (October) featuring the famous ‘ballet blanc’ of the wilis. Between these classics, each company highlights its strengths: Universal revives its Korean‑themed original Simcheong (a 1986 creation) in May, and the National Ballet presents a double bill including Wayne McGregor’s Infra (a domestic premiere) and Glen Tetley’s The Rite of Spring, plus a revival of John Neumeier’s dramatic The Lady of the Camellias in November. Both companies close the year with the perennial holiday favorite The Nutcracker, staged in December at major Seoul theaters. (Simcheong: a Korean folktale; ballet blanc: a scene with dancers in white)
