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Paris Opera Ballet's Yun Seo-hoo prepares for promotion in July

Paris Opera Ballet's Yun Seo-hoo prepares for promotion in July

Posted June. 15, 2016 07:26,   

Updated June. 15, 2016 07:52

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Joining the Paris Opera Ballet as a foreigner is difficult which has tradition of over 300 years and is one of the most authoritative. There are few opportunities for auditions and more than 95 percent of the members are French.

Each year, strong candidates from international contents flock to take auditions, but less than 10 are accepted. Even when accepted, the person has to go through a training period for one year. Yun Seo-hoo was accepted at the audition in July last year, and is currently acting as a trainee. She ranked No. 1 for females part at the Youth America Grand Prix in 2011 and was also No. 1 for females part at 2014 International Ballet Competition Varna. "The audition is very strict with judges not hesitating to say 'no' if they think the contestant is not meeting expectations," Yoon said.

There are 15 training members. They take ballet class from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and do rehearsal in the afternoon and participate in performance in the evening. "It is lucky if we get to perform in the evening. The most difficult thing is not being able to perform on stage," Yoon said.

After one year, the trainees have to take another audition and can be promoted to become a regular member when accepted, or have to live another year as a trainee. "The No. 1 ranking member becomes a regular member, there are people who have been a trainee for more than seven years," Yoon said. When a regular member gets injured or is sick, a trainee has to fill in. "I have to memorize all movements because we don't know when chances will come," she said.

Promotion audition is due July 7. Yoon is one of the most powerful candidates to qualify as a regular member. Yoon said, "I'm the youngest here and sometimes I regret having started my career too early. But I am really learning a lot at the world's top ballet group," adding, "Though my present situation is uncertain, I will challenge continuously until I get promoted."



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