LA NOTTE MAGAZINE

Lee Kangwon (이강원), in a duet with Kim Minjin, won the Gold medal at the XV International Ballet Competition in Moscow. They amazed the audience with the technical skill and ability to convey a range of roles on stage, from the grandiose Grand Pas Classique and Swan Lake to the playful pas de deux from Esmeralda ballet and the virtuoso Talisman. Lee Kangwon also demonstrated dramatic expression and the potential of his relationship with gravity in the contemporary We Are Safe Now. It’s time to meet the talent!

Hello, Kangwon! Congratulations to you and your partner, Kim Minjin, on winning the Moscow Ballet Competition. How are you feeling now after your victory?

Thank you so much for the congratulations! It still feels a bit surreal, but completing the Moscow International Ballet Competition – especially alongside Minjin – feels like a massive weight has been lifted. Since this was our final competition, standing on that stage was incredibly emotional.

You seem remarkably calm on stage. What helps you maintain both concentration and expressiveness?

To be honest, looking calm on stage is mostly an illusion! Inside, my heart is racing. What really helps me maintain focus is the sheer volume of practice. When you have repeated a movement thousands of times, muscle memory takes over, which frees up your mind to focus entirely on the artistry and expressiveness. The moment the lights come on, I try to live completely inside the character and the music.

In the second round of the competition, you performed a contemporary solo. Was that more challenging for you than performing the classical pas de deux?

Both pieces present entirely different challenges. The classical pas de deux requires absolute precision, partnership, and synchronization; your partner’s safety and technical perfection are paramount. On the other hand, a contemporary solo demands a different kind of vulnerability. It forces you to break away from rigid classical alignment and find organic, grounded movement. It definitely pushes me out of my physical comfort zone.

Looking back, is there a performance you’re especially proud of? And which performance did you find the most challenging?

The most challenging is… Balancing the heavy demands of classical technique with the fluid, grounded nature of contemporary required a lot of mental and physical recalibration during the preparation process.
I am incredibly proud of my Second Round performance of the Talisman solo. The choreography demands explosive elevation, intricate jumps, and sustained control, all while maintaining a light, celestial character. Executing those technical elements cleanly on the Moscow stage after months of rigorous refining was a deeply fulfilling moment for me.

What qualities are you currently trying to develop as a dancer?

Right now, I am focusing heavily on deepening my dramatic depth and fluidity. I want to ensure that my technique serves the emotional narrative seamlessly, rather than just being a display of athletic skill.

Do you have any favorite dancers? Who inspires you the most?

As for inspirations, I look up to dancers who possess that rare combination of flawless classical technique and magnetic stage presence – artists who can command the entire theater with just a single glance or a subtle shift in weight.

If you could describe yourself as a dancer in three words, what would you say?

Disciplined (because everything is built in the studio), Expressive (because technique without soul is just exercise), and Resilient (because ballet demands pushing through constant boundaries).

And as a person?

Grounded (I try to keep my feet on the floor, no matter how high I jump on stage), Passionate (whether it’s ballet or dedicating time to things I love on my rest days), and Grateful (for my family, my mentors like Professor Kim Sun-hee, and everyone who has supported my journey since my academy days).

Thank you, Kangwon, for such an interesting interview and I wish you more achieved goals!

Interview: Julia Sumzina
Photos: ©Елизавета Емелькина и Юлия Федорова для диджитал-журнала «Балет» (Elizaveta Emelkina and Yulia Fedorova for http://www.balletmagazine.ru), International Ballet Competition in Moscow (photos provided to us personally by Lee Kangwon)