Celebrating the ‘Highest Form of Art’
UBC performing their signature ballet "Shim Chung" (Photo courtesy of Graeme Carmichael)
“Every time I watch ballet, I feel that this must be what art in the Heavenly Kingdom is like,” wrote Rev. Sun Myung Moon. “When a ballerina stands on her toes and holds her head toward the heavens, this stance strikes me as a perfect pose for the way we should hold God in awe. It has the look of ardent desire. In ballet, human beings can use the beautiful body given to them by God to express their love for Him. It is the highest form of art.”
The late Rev. Moon, who wrote about his love of ballet in his autobiography, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen, shared his deep appreciation of the dance form with the world when he co-founded the Universal Ballet Company 37 years ago. Rev. Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, inaugurated the Universal Ballet Company on July 13, 1984 at the Little Angels Performing Arts Center in Seoul. They aimed to raise Korean ballet to the world standard, and contribute to better international cultural exchange while leading the globalization of Korean ballet arts.
Originating in the 15th Century during the Italian Renaissance, professional ballet involves years of rigorous training and a fine mastery of movement requiring hours of practice and dedication to the craft. Rev. and Dr. Moon admired the perseverance of ballet dancers whose beautiful artistry is not easily accomplished.
“I am not one to be pressured into giving up my dreams,” wrote Rev. Moon in his book. “I have a bullheaded strength of will that I use to pursue dreams that will lead to a world of peace… The creation of our ballet company is a perfect example of the same strength of will. People said it couldn’t be done.”
“Today more people in Korea are enjoying ballet than ever before,” he wrote. “When we first created our ballet company, Korea was like a barren wasteland as far as ballet was concerned. Korea now even has its own world-renowned ballerinas.”
The Universal Ballet Company has since gained international acclaim and recognition while instituting a number of world tours. To date, the ballet company has held 487 overseas performances in 25 countries.
“The Universal Ballet receives invitations from the world’s most famous venues,” wrote Rev. Moon. “Its dancers are credited with adding a uniquely Korean beauty to the energetic moves of Western ballet. They are praised for the way they harmonize Eastern and Western styles in their performances.”
The Universal Ballet Company began by performing Swan Lake and the Nutcracker Suite, as well as its own original creations Shim Chung, the tale of a filial daughter, and The Love of Chunhyang, a love story about fidelity and loyalty. Now led by General Director Julia Moon, 70 dancers present well-known full length classical ballets such as Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote, as well as contemporary masterpieces such as Na Floresta and Duende, Somewhat Elevated, and All Shall Be.
“Whether performing a stylized Kirov specialty or a home-grown essay… All the dancers embody the identical concept of classical style, the identical sense of placement, line, and technical finesse,” wrote Lewis Segal, a dance critic for the Los Angeles Times. “Whatever their individual talent or training, they speak the same movement language—an amazing accomplishment.”
As part of the arts, the Universal Ballet Company brings humanity together, a vision long shared by Rev. and Dr. Moon and exhibited in their vast range of peacebuilding work around the world. “The arts enable humankind to reflect the high ideals embodied in God’s own creative work,” wrote Rev. Moon.
“God poured His entire heart into human beings and the world He created, just as artists invest their entire being into their works… To pour out everything we have, to offer ourselves up completely for the sake of one moment in time—this is how greatness is achieved and how humankind comes to resemble God.”
You can get a copy of Rev. Moon’s autobiography here, and learn more about the Universal Ballet Company here.
