Korean Soloist Hong Ji-min Promotes Bournonville Ballet’s Joyful Naturalism in Korea
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Hong Ji-min, the only Korean dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet and a soloist since 2018, returned to Seoul to perform a Bournonville repertoire at the 2026 Night in Seoul Ballet Gala. She highlighted the Bournonville method (a classical Danish ballet technique founded by August Bournonville) as valuing joy, naturalness, and purity over flashy technique or exaggerated mime. Hong plans to teach Bournonville method classes at several Korean universities and arts high schools before returning to Denmark. Her career overcame serious injuries—ankle damage, circulation issues, concussion, and surgery—but she persevered from training at Canada’s National Ballet School to joining the Royal Danish Ballet in 2014. She credits Bournonville’s philosophy of authenticity, freedom, and harmony for deepening her sense of joy in dance and hopes Korean audiences will appreciate the style’s charm.
