Korean-born ballerina Seo Hee, who currently serves as the principal dancer of American Ballet Theater, is to give a performance as a lead in John Cranko’s three-act ballet “Onegin.”

The 27-year-old is to dance with Korea’s Universal Ballet Company, as well as Roberto Bolle, her fellow principal dancer at the ABT.

Seo, who joined the dance company in 2004, became a member of its corps de ballet in 2006, and was promoted to soloist in August 2010. She was promoted to the troupe’s principal dancer last year, just weeks before the company’s Seoul run of “Giselle” in July. The upcoming show is her second performance in Seoul after the surprise promotion.

The dancer has a close relationship with UBC and its director Julia Moon. She attended Sun Hwa Arts Middle School in Seoul and the Universal Ballet Academy in Washington, D.C., both of which are affiliated with the Universal Ballet. 

“Onegin” is based on Alexander Pushkin’s 19th-century novel “Eugine Onegin,” which features the tragic love story of its young, but selfish and arrogant eponymous protagonist.

He first rejects Tatiana, an innocent and provincial young woman who writes him love letters. Only many years later does he realize it was a mistake.

When he runs into her again, she is married to an older man of higher social standing. When Onegin confesses his love, in spite of Tatiana’s marital status, Tatiana rejects him even more strongly. She tells him, in tears, she’ll stay faithful to her husband ― though it is obvious that she is still in love with Onegin. The ballet, danced to Tchaikovsky’s music in an arrangement by Kurt-Heins Stolze, puts its dancers’ acting skills to the test, as it asks them to deliver their emotions the way actors do.

The narrative ballet was first featured in Seoul in 2004 by Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet, starring its Korean-born principal dancer Kang Sue-jin as Tatiana. Korea’s UBC performed the piece for the first time in 2009 and had its second run in 2011.

The upcoming run will be UBC’s longtime principal ballerina Kang Ye-na’s last performance as well. The 39-year-old became the first Korean dancer to join the ABT in 1998, and joined Universal Ballet in 2004 as one of the troupe’s principal dancers.

She made her debut as a designer earlier this year, launching her own dancewear “Yenaline” in February ― introducing style-conscious leotards with vivid patterns and exuding colorful lusters.

“Onegin” runs from July 6 to 13 at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater. Seo and Bolle will perform together on July 7 and 8. Tickets range from 10,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.universalballet.com or call (02) 540-1300.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)