LA NOTTE MAGAZINE

Pak Kunbyulbit (박큰별빛) from South Korea, winner of the Gold Medal in the Boys’ Solo Category at the XV International Ballet Competition in Moscow, has proven himself a confident classical dancer. At the age of fifteen, he has mastered variations such as the Wind God from The Talisman and Jean de Brienne from Raymonda, among others. It’s time to meet the talent!

Hi, Kunbyulbit! Congratulations on winning the Gold Medal! How do you feel now that the competition is over?

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your constant support and congratulations. The days I spent at the Bolshoi Theatre still feel like a dream to me. Meeting fellow dancers and performing on such a historic stage has inspired me to dream even bigger. I am incredibly grateful for every single moment.

I also would like to say about my Professors Sunhee Kim and Juhyun Cho have nurtured me for seven years, right from the very beginning when I knew nothing about ballet. In every glorious moment of my life, they are always the first people who come to my mind. They are truly like my ballet parents.

You’re a young dancer but quite experienced in competitions. What was the most challenging part of the Moscow ballet competition for you?

Rather than letting myself get weighed down by unnecessary worry or stage fright, I always try to focus on enjoying the present moment on stage.
To be honest, I suffered an injury from an accident completely unrelated to ballet, which left me with just a little over a month to prepare for the competition. Because of that, my physical condition wasn’t at its absolute best. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful that I was able to finish the final stage safely and successfully without any further injuries.

How did you choose your repertoire?

Since I am still a student, my top priority was to choose pieces that I had never learned before or had never performed on stage.
Among those, I wanted to select works that would showcase my versatility and different character portrayals without overlapping in style. My mentor, Professor Juhyun Cho, agreed that it was a great idea and fully respected my vision.
After careful consideration, I decided to go with Colas from La Fille Mal Gardée, the Wind God from The Talisman, Lucien from Paquita, and Jean de Brienne from Raymonda.

Which variation did you enjoy performing the most, and why?

I loved every single piece and every single moment on stage. Since it was the stage of my dreams, I was genuinely happy no matter what I was dancing. To me, the Bolshoi Theatre felt like a magical place.

You performed very different classical roles, from the Wind God in The Talisman to Lucien in Paquita and Jean de Brienne in Raymonda. Which role feels closest to your personality?

I have never defined my identity by saying, ’I am a certain type of person.‘ I think this mindset actually allows me to unleash my imagination without any preconceptions when portraying a new character. Since I am still in the learning stage, I know I still have a long way to go, but I am currently focused on gaining as much experience as possible to discover the unique charm of every character.

Do you have a favorite ballet dancer or someone whose performances you admire?

There are so many wonderful and brilliant dancers in the world. If I were to name them all, 24 hours wouldn’t be enough. (laughs)
However, like most male ballet students in Korea, I have a role model whose life and overall artistic journey I deeply admire and wish to follow. That is Kimin Kim, principal dancer of the Mariinsky Ballet.
After studying in Korea, he joined one of the world‘s most prestigious ballet companies at an early age. He has been performing on the stage of his dreams, communicating and sharing a deep bond with countless ballet lovers for a very long time. I believe there is no greater or more beautiful legacy in the history of Korean ballet. Like him, I also want to be a dancer who performs on my dream stage for a very long time.

What makes you happiest in ballet?

On stage, everyone is silent, but there always comes a moment in that silence where we feel a powerful, mutual connection. I feel the most overwhelmed with joy and happiness when that warm energy of love resonates deeply between the audience, my fellow dancers, and myself.

What music do you listen to?

Rather than sticking to a specific genre or artist, I listen to a wide variety of music. However, if I look at my playlist, it is mostly filled with analog, acoustic, and classical music rather than electronically produced tracks. I tend to listen to old pop songs and warm Korean ballads that have been loved for a long time over modern, trendy music. And as a dancer, of course, I naturally listen to a lot of classical music as well.

If you had one completely free day with no ballet, how would you spend it?

Before I started ballet seriously, my family used to travel together all the time. If I were given just one day of complete freedom, I would love to go somewhere beautiful with my family for a peaceful getaway. I want to spend quality time catching up on things we haven‘t had the chance to share and recharge our love for one another.

Interview: Julia Sumzina
Photos: ©International Ballet Competition in Moscow (www.moscowballetcompetition.com ), ©Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts (KNIGA) (and consent has not been obtained from all the performers pictured), photographer: Youngmo Choi