Ballerino Kim Kimin to Perform Boléro with Bejart Ballet Lausanne

Ballerino Kim Kimin, an alumnus of the School of Dance, will perform Boléro with Béjart Ballet Lausanne (BBL), which returns to Seoul for the first time in nearly 25 years. Founded by Maurice Béjart (1927–2007), one of the most influential figures in ballet history, BBL has shaped the evolution of contemporary ballet by infusing classical technique with expressive, groundbreaking choreography. Even after Béjart’s passing, his artistic legacy continues to thrive through the company’s innovative repertoire. This visit marks BBL’s first performance in South Korea in fifteen years—since Daejeon in 2011—and its first in Seoul since 2001. The program will feature Béjart’s iconic masterpieces, Boléro and The Firebird, alongside Hamlet and Bye Bye Baby Blackbird, which will be staged for the first time in Asia.

Notably, Boléro will spotlight Kim Kimin, a principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet. Premiered in 1961, Béjart’s Boléro is renowned for its hypnotic repetition and mounting intensity, as the lead dancer embodies rhythmic motifs while encircled by a group of male dancers, creating an explosive wave of movement and sound.

Kim, who will grace what is often referred to as “the dream stage” for dancers, became the first Asian male dancer to join the Mariinsky Ballet in 2011. He subsequently became the youngest principal dancer in the company’s history in 2015, and the following year won the Benois de la Danse, a distinction unmatched by any other Korean male dancer to date. This highly anticipated performance will take place at the GS Arts Center in Seoul from April 23 to April 26.