Actress Chae Si-ra (56) will make her official dance debut through the National Jeongdong Theater's traditional performance 'Dansim'.
On the afternoon of the 8th, a press call for the traditional performance 'Dansim' (單沈), commemorating the 30th anniversary of the theater's opening, was held at the National Jeongdong Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul. Attendees included CEO Jang Seong-sook, choreographer Jeong Hye-jin, director Jeong Gu-ho, composers Kim Cheol-hwan and Park Da-ul, actress Chae Si-ra, dancers Jo Ha-neul and Park Ji-yeon, and cultural project team leader Lee Soo-hyun.
The new creation 'Dansim' by the National Jeongdong Theater's artistic team is a modern reinterpretation of the classic tale 'Sim Cheong', focusing on Sim Cheong's inner world. The creative team includes director Jeong Gu-ho, who has collaborated with the Seoul City Dance Company on 'Ilmu', and choreographer Jeong Hye-jin. Director Jeong Gu-ho will also serve as the scenographer, showcasing his unique and concise mise-en-scène. The choreography is led by Jeong Hye-jin, who previously served as the head of the Seoul City Dance Company.
Chae Si-ra, a 40-year veteran actress who debuted in 1985, will make a special appearance as the Dragon King Queen in the play. In 1995, she played the lead role in the MBC two-part drama 'Choi Seung-hee', which depicted the life of the legendary dancer Choi Seung-hee, and learned 17 of her dances from teacher Kim Baek-bong over 45 days. Although she showcased a short dance while serving as a promotional ambassador for the 45th Seoul Dance Festival last year, this is her first appearance in an official dance work.
CEO Jeong Seong-sook praised her, saying, "I want to call Chae Si-ra a dancer. At first, I wondered if she could do it, but she sweat just like the other members and showed a willingness to learn more. She played a significant role in completing this work."
Director Jeong Gu-ho explained, "It wasn't because of Chae Si-ra that we made the Dragon King a queen. Sim Cheong lost her mother at a young age and never felt her warmth, so I wanted to create a scenario where she enters the Dragon Palace and feels her mother's warmth through the transformation of the Dragon King into the Dragon Queen."
He added, regarding casting Chae Si-ra, "I thought about what kind of person would be good for the role of the Dragon Queen and made the suggestion. She was the best for the role of Sim Cheong's mother as well. She worked very hard. I'm grateful."
Chae Si-ra opened up, saying, "There can be different modifiers in front of my name, but I never imagined that the word 'dancer' would be in front of it. I was given the opportunity to debut as a dancer."
She continued, "Before becoming an actress, I dreamed of being a dancer, and after becoming an actress, I was able to dance in my works. During a time when I was thirsty for dance, I showcased my dance while serving as a promotional ambassador for the Seoul Dance Festival, and now I've made great progress, being able to perform for nearly 15 minutes on stage without leaving, blending dance and a bit of acting."
Chae Si-ra expressed, "It feels like a dream," adding, "The training process required much more time than I expected. Many teachers worked hard. I'm grateful," and said, "I don't know how it will be received, but I hope people will view it positively."
She also mentioned, "It's very meaningful for anyone to challenge themselves without giving up on what they want to do. I want to support those who wish to take on challenges."
She concluded, "I look forward to whether the word 'dancer' will be attached to my name in the future. I'm happy to be able to greet you as a dancer through this work. Many dancers will also appear, and the friends who perform in the group dance have worked hard. I want to give them applause as well. I hope many people come to see it."
‘Dansim’ will be performed until June 28.
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
