Korea’s Ballet Season Heats Up: Two Major Companies Share Swan Lake and Nutcracker
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
South Korea’s two leading ballet companies, the National Ballet and Universal Ballet, unveiled their 2026 lineups, promising a packed year for dance fans. Both companies will stage Swan Lake in spring (National Ballet in April; Universal in August), with a third production from Monaco’s Monte-Carlo Ballet visiting in May — offering three distinct versions: a Yuri Grigoryevich-inspired reinterpretation, a traditional Mariinsky-style corps de ballet, and a contemporary black-and-white psychological take. The National Ballet will premiere Wayne McGregor’s Infra (domestic premiere) in May as part of a double bill with The Rite of Spring (returning after 10 years), blending contemporary choreography and Max Richter/Igor Stravinsky scores. Universal Ballet marks the 40th anniversary of its signature Korean-created ballet Simcheong (a K-ballet adaptation of a Korean folktale) in May, a work performed in 12 countries and continuously refined over four decades. Autumn programs include romantic classics—Giselle (National Ballet) and The Sleeping Beauty (Universal, Mariinsky version)—and both companies will close the year with the perennial favorite The Nutcracker in December. The National Ballet will also present the 11th edition of its choreographer development project next year.
