Monte Carlo principal Ahn Jae-yong, ABT Studio's Park Yun-jae to star in Kim Yong-geol's new work

Ahn Jae-yong, principal dancer at the Monaco Monte Carlo Ballet, is set to join forces with Kim Yong-geol, a former professor at the Korea National University of Arts who has been a driving force in Korean contemporary ballet. The occasion is Kim's new work.

The Nowon Cultural Foundation and Kim Yong-geol Dance Theater announced Monday that Ahn and Park Yun-jae of the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company will perform in the new piece "Essai" at the 2026 Nowon Ballet Festival, running Tuesday through Wednesday at the main hall of the Nowon Culture and Arts Center.

Kim, the artistic director, trained as a soloist with the Paris Opera Ballet and is widely credited with laying the groundwork for contemporary ballet in Korea. For this production, he pushes the variation of precise movement to its limits — breaking free from the rigid conventions of classical ballet to distill instinctive human body language and bold compositional choices.

Dancers who have proven themselves on the world stage have gathered for the work. Ahn, a principal at the Monaco Monte Carlo Ballet and the muse of master choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, anchors the piece, giving visual form to Kim's choreography through fluid lines and commanding stage presence.

Park shot to prominence after winning the grand prix at the 2024 Prix de Lausanne and also joins the cast. In this production, Park takes on Kim's new solo piece "Bolero Solo," demonstrating the energy of a next-generation dancer.

The performances are also notable for breaking down the price barrier at a time when ballet ticket prices are climbing steadily. While dance performances at major theaters and in the Daehangno district typically run 100,000 to 150,000 won ($108) per ticket, this festival has cut its top-tier seat price by more than two-thirds.

"This is a stage where audiences can witness the overwhelming artistry of dancers proven on the world stage," a production official said. "Even those unfamiliar with contemporary ballet will find themselves drawn in by Director Kim's characteristically clear and sensory direction."