Kim In-hee was one of the first ballerinas in Korea, who was best known for her exceptional techniques, flexibility and expressive dancing. She received ballet training in Monaco and later became the principal dancer of the prestigious Universal Ballet and Korean National Ballet. Then, in 1995, she founded Seoul Ballet Theater, a private ballet company, with her husband and choreographer James Jeon. As the General Director of Seoul Ballet Theater, Kim In-hee has been staging original works that display artistic excellence and mass appeal. Seoul Ballet Theatre became the first domestic ballet company to grant licenses to its productions to foreign organizations, and gained acclaim for incorporating Korean elements into classical ballets. They are also running a wide range of education programs to help the general public become more familiar with ballet. We visited the Gwacheon Civic Center to meet Kim In-hee, who has been running leading Seoul Ballet Theatre to success for the past 20 years. During the in-depth interview, she expressed her gratitude toward the members of the organization for trusting her and following her lead, even during the difficult times. She also invited us backstage to get a better glimpse of "Rage," staged to commemorate the dance company's 20th anniversary. The contemporary ballet was revamped with two additional scenes and upgraded music and set. When approached with a question on whether she'd do ballet again if she were born again, she reminisced about the past and, with a sense of conviction, she said that she was the happiest when she practiced ballet, performed on stage and toured with other dancers. Join us on The INNERview this week to meet Kim In-hee, the General Director of Seoul Ballet Theatre, who has been an inspiration to countless ballet dancers with her unwavering passion for the exquisite dance form.
