Mariinsky’s Kim Ki-min leads Boléro

“My goal is to convey to the audience the same emotion I feel in rehearsal.”

Kim Ki-min, a principal dancer with Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet, is set to perform in South Korea in Maurice Béjart’s landmark work “Boléro,” created in 1961 for Béjart Ballet Lausanne.

Kim, 34, will take on the lead role of “La Mélodie” as the company returns to South Korea for the first time in 15 years. In a video interview on April 2, he said performing “Boléro” had long been a personal ambition since his student days at Korea National University of Arts. He added that audiences in Russia had frequently expressed a desire to see his interpretation of the piece.

The performances, set for April 23 to 26 at GS Arts Center in Seoul’s Gangnam district, have drawn strong demand. Shows featuring Kim sold out within five minutes of ticket release.

Ahead of the tour, Kim rehearsed in Switzerland with artistic director Julien Favreau. He described “Boléro” as a symbolic work that resists simple explanation but carries a unifying energy on and off the stage.

“Each rehearsal feels as if a drop falls from a distant universe onto my head, and the vibration spreads through my entire body,” he said. “It is so intense it nearly brings me to tears.”

Kim said sustaining the role of “La Mélodie” was physically demanding, prompting him to seek advice from fellow dancers. “They told me the corps de ballet would support me on stage,” he said. “That immediately resonated. I dance on the table, but the energy from below strengthens me and draws the audience into the performance.”

He also highlighted the final scene, in which “La Mélodie” meets death. “From the first note, I feel as though I am approaching death, but it is not portrayed as sorrow or despair,” he said. “It is something I accept with a sense of calm, even joy. That interpretation continues to surprise me.”

Kim expressed optimism about the growing global presence of South Korean dancers, while offering a measured critique. “South Korea’s ballet training is highly advanced, but the focus on entrance exams has created a tendency to prioritize appearance,” he said. “That may lead to short-term success, such as competition wins, but it can make it harder to sustain artistry over time.”

Kim said he approaches both rehearsals and performances with complete commitment. “I try to give everything and more,” he said. “I fall asleep listening to ‘Boléro’ and wake up to it. I believe audiences will feel the emotion that comes from within, and I am working to bring out as much of it as possible.”


Min Kim kimmin@donga.com