Universal Ballet’s Original Production on the road again

Shim Chung, a modern day classical masterpiece created for Universal Ballet has been staged more than 200 times at home and abroad and has sparked interest in many hearts in many places. As major newspapers around the world have praised its success, Shim Chung enjoys a growing endorsement from prestigious theaters the world over.

Shim Chung, a pillar of Universal Ballet’s repertory for more than 20 years 

Choreographer Adrienne Dellas and composer Kevin Barber Pickard teamed up to infuse traditional elegance into this classic ballet work. In preparation, they studied the history of Korea and took care in combining Korean cultural history with western classical ballet forms. This resulted in the creation of Shim Chung, a new level of performance blending traditional sentiment and modern artistry into one. The main story line is about Shim Chung’s devotion to her blind father and how heaven is moved to restore his eyesight. In Korea, where family values are a deep and integral part of the culture, this kind of dedication to serve one’s parents is referred to as ‘Hyodo’, and is considered a great virtue. The ballet Shim Chung, faithfully following the original story, accentuates the traditional virtue of filial piety in refined neoclassic

Updated with underwater video scenes

In 2010, Shim Chung was further developed with the addition of underwater video scenes.  For theaters with sufficient technical facilities, this upgraded version of the production will offer an extra treat to the dance audience.

Unforgettable Highlights

* The Sea Dragon King’s fury turns the sea into a whirlpool of storm.

* The strength and vigor of the sailors’ dances, matching the energy of the men in Spartacus, a Russian spectacle ballet.

* Shim Chung Pas de Deux with the Sea Prince – as memorable as Odette with Siegfried.

* The fantasy undersea kingdom in Act 2 is a visual feast.

* The company dances in the Korean Court in Act 3 present traditional Korean dances

with a new makeover.

Shim Chung is performed by Universal Ballet’s world-class artists, who have been earnestly praised by the New York Times and the LA Times

* Presented as a special production during the 1988 Seoul Olympics Culture and Arts Festival

* Selected as the best ballet work at the 1986 Asian Games Culture and Arts Festival

* Received critical and public acclaim at Lincoln Center in New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and the Music Center in Los Angeles in 2001

[Synopsis]

Learning that an offering to the temple will allow her father to regain his sight, Shim Chung accepts a bag of gold coins from a Sea Captain, willingly agreeing to be thrown overboard to protect the captain’s ship from the furies of the Sea Dragon King.

After the ship’s captain takes her to the ship, a storm arises, and Shim Chung, offering a ritual dance and prayer, plunges into the sea to save the ship.

Under the sea, Shim Chung is welcomed warmly by the Sea Dragon King, who asks her to marry him and share his kingdom, but Shim Chung is longing to see her father, and pleads with the king to send her back.

Arriving back in her homeland, she finds favor with the Korean King, who marries her, but still happiness eludes her until she finds her blind father. Embracing her father, Shim Chung’s tears of joy fall on his face, and he miraculously regains

his sight.