Nightline Interview: First Korean Duo to Win Gold at Moscow Ballet Competition

[Anchor]

At the Moscow International Ballet Competition, often referred to as the Olympics of ballet and held every four years, South Korean dancers from the Korea National University of Arts have won first place as a duo for the first time.

For today's (July 14) Nightline interview, we are joined by Lee Kang-won and Kim Min-jin, the gold medalists of the Moscow International Ballet Competition.

Q. You won gold at the Moscow Ballet Competition. How do you feel?

[Kim Min-jin / Ballerina, 3rd-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: It has been about a week since we returned from Russia, and it still feels like a dream. From the moment we decided to participate in the competition, the time we spent sweating and practicing together in the studio, the days we navigated through in Russia, and the unforgettable performances—I am grateful for every moment. It will remain a chapter of my life in Moscow that I will remember for a long time.]

[Lee Kang-won / Ballerino, 4th-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: When I first heard the news that we won first place, it felt like a reward for the 10 years of hard work and training I have put in since I was at the Gifted Education Center at the Korea National University of Arts. I am also very grateful and happy that we were able to finish the performance with such great chemistry.]

Q. Awards are given individually. Did you have expectations after the women's results were announced?

[Lee Kang-won / Ballerino, 4th-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: I felt more nervous than expectant. Since there were soloists from ballet companies all over the world competing, and I am still a student, I could not let my guard down. However, thinking about the performances we finished well with such good chemistry, I think I did have some expectations.]

Q. Why did you choose "La Esmeralda" and "Swan Lake"?

[Kim Min-jin / Ballerina, 3rd-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: We have been able to experience many works at school since our time at the Gifted Education Center until now. We chose the pieces that we thought suited us best and could showcase each of our strengths. We also discussed a lot with our professors to ensure we could show different sides of ourselves across the three rounds of the competition.]

Q. You received high praise for being on a "different level." What is the secret to such a positive evaluation?

[Lee Kang-won / Ballerino, 4th-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: I am very grateful that they liked our dancing. Rather than focusing on technical aspects, I put more effort into researching how to effectively convey the story of the work to the audience. While performing the movements well is important, I paid more attention to musical expression, chemistry with my partner, and the emotions of the characters. I think that is what resonated well with the audience and the judges.]

Q. You showed rich emotional acting despite your age. How was that possible?

[Kim Min-jin / Ballerina, 3rd-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: As he mentioned earlier, the emotional aspect was what we focused on and pondered the most while preparing. During rehearsals in Korea, our professors gave us a lot of advice on how the characters differ in each piece and how to express those emotional parts more vividly. We also focused on those aspects during our practice. Even after arriving in Russia, we talked a lot about musical interpretation and details, which I think gave our performances more depth. I am grateful that it was perceived that way.]

Q. What are your thoughts on the global success of Korean dancers?

[Lee Kang-won / Ballerino, 4th-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: Watching our seniors allowed me to set higher goals while preparing for the Moscow competition. I also want to become a senior who has a great influence on my juniors.]

Q. What are your goals or dreams as dancers?

[Kim Min-jin / Ballerina, 3rd-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: I want to be a dancer who can convey the beauty of ballet, which I feel and love, to others. It is my dream to continue working hard with that same mindset and dance in front of audiences more often.]

[Lee Kang-won / Ballerino, 4th-year student at Korea National University of Arts School of Dance: I hope to provide great inspiration and a lasting impression to the audience who come to see me. Everyone has different reasons and mindsets when they visit the theater. Some may come with a happy heart, while others may be going through something sad or difficult. I hope that for the time they are watching me, they can find at least a little bit of healing.]

(Source: Eun-ah In, K-Arts ballet, Moscow Ballet Competition, 'stretch ribbon' XV Moscow IBC)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.