"Sue Jin Kang reveals transcendental beauty and her overwhelming presence."
- Austria < KULTUR >

Sue Jin Kang, Tireless butterfly of steel.
She performs “Madama Butterfly.” A work for her.

She challenged another ballet work in 2013. It was only choreographed for her by Artistic Director of Innsbruck Dance Company in Austria, which makes this work special. Kang pointed out Cho Cho, a shy, emotional, sexy character and a woman of pride as the most attractive in <Madama Butterfly>. She also said, “This work reflects and shows my dancing style along with beautiful music. I think Korean fans will love this work.” <Madama Butterfly>, ballet work only for Sue Jin Kang will follow her major repertoire, <Romeo and Juliet>, <The Lady of the Camellias>, <Onegin>.

Puccini Opera, reinvented through ballet!
2013 Austria World Premier, sell-out sensation!!

<Madama Butterfly>, Puccini's famous opera, has been reinvented as a ballet adaptation. Reid Anderson, the artistic director of Stuttgart Ballet, said after seeing the opera, that it will achieve a huge success. Having spent 11 years solely on planning the piece, Enrique Gasa Valga's ambition to complete <Madama Butterfly>, since his appointment as the artistic director of Innsbruck Ballet 5 years ago, has achieved an astonishing result of sell-out sensations for all 10 premiers and 4 encore performances. Local media also highly praised the Innsbruck Ballet, saying: 'Sue jin Kang could not have met a better partner. Every individual dancer was brilliant.'

Fascinating music that tugs at the heartstrings!
Four percussionists are responsible for all the music in the ballet performance <Madama Butterfly>. The vibrant dynamics of the percussions add a sense of hectic tension, liveliness and mythical Oriental colors to the impressive rhythms. 'Un bel di, vedremo' and 'Humming Chorus' - the opera arias used in Sue Jin Kang's solo and pas de deux - are also two highlights of the ballet <Madama Butterfly>. <Madama Butterfly>'s music, combined with Sue Jin Kang's perfect and beautiful gestures, and her overwhelming presence, is without a question the perfect harmony.

Enrique Gasa Valga | Artistic Director & Choreographer

"I would not have wanted to tell this story if it was not for Sue Jin Kang."
Q. There are many works that explored 'Madama Butterfly'. Is there a particular reason why you like 'Madama Butterfly'?
A. For me, Madama Butterfly is a lady who is naive, timid, sensitive and delicate, and yet emotional, confident and strong. All these characteristics give rise to a very interesting and colorful person. In fact, her strength and confidence is what allows her to decide her own fate, towards the end of the story. Throughout the story, she is in conflict with her double-sided fate and eventually she becomes free by taking her own life.

Q. Is the butterfly project inseparable from Sue Jin Kang?
A. Yes, without a question. I would not have wanted to tell this story if it was not for Sue Jin Kang. My dancers constantly inspire me and these inspirations that they provide me with have great effects on my work. I even work on the choreographies, from the dancers' points of views. In addition, a dancer with a very unique charisma was an essential factor for 'Madama Butterfly' because we needed a reason for Pinkerton to fall for the lady.

Q. Have you ever visited Japan?
A. No. Tragic love is definitely the central theme of 'Madama Butterfly'. It is a very rare and genuine love story. How many individuals would actually give up their lives for their loved ones? It is very poetic - and of course conventional. But this piece can be played on any stage in the world - Japan, Korea, or even Spain. I wish to create a very unique Japanese atmosphere, using the scenery, dresses and music, and hope to excite the audiences. And the unbelievable Asian drums allowed us to add a completely new dynamics into the play. The extremely low status of Japanese females at that time also plays an important role. But this was also true for any other countries. The collision of two different cultures is what marks the phenomena in Japan at that time, and it amplifies the conflict of the plot even more.

" Cho Cho has every characteristics that a girl could want."

Q. What was your impression when you first performed ballet <Madama Butterfly> in 2013?
A. We were under a certain amount of stress because it was the first premier ever. We simply did not have enough time. Enrique Gasa Valga(artistic director of Innsbruck Ballet) and I were so busy and we tried to figure out how to manage our tight schedules. But what sprung into my mind was the phrase, 'nothing is impossible' and I was reminded yet again that it is true. Nothing is impossible.

Q. How did you come to work with Enrique Gasa Valga?
A. When my husband Tunchi Shockman was the ballet master of Mannheim ballet, 13 years ago, Enrique was one of the dancers of Mannheim. We were not very close back then, we only used to say hello from time to time.
11 years ago, I met him in a gala performance in Spain. Enrique told me that his mother insisted that I must perform the role of Cho Cho in madama butterfly. % years ago, Enrique became the artistic director of Innsbruck ballet and 2 years ago he told me that he wants to produce a ballet 'Madama Butterfly'. But my hands were full at that time, so I asked him to postpone the production until we were less occupied.

Q. It is not very well-known as a ballet piece. How would you describe it?
A. <Madama Butterfly> is famous as an opera, but it has never been interpreted through works of ballet. Enrique Gasa Valga's <Madama Butterfly> is comprised of beautiful music that is solely designed for me, with the purpose of highlighting my unique style. The role of Cho Cho was a very intriguing character to perform because she has a very original drama that bears contrast to other roles in different drama ballet pieces. I was convinced that I could create my own Cho Cho.

Q. Is there a particular scene you like in the ballet <Madama Butterfly>?
A. Just like in any other drama pieces, I do have a favorite scene that won my heart. In the final part of Act 2, there are dancers who represent Cho Cho's mind - yin and yang. That pas de trois and the final solo dance was very memorable. The last pas de deux in Act 2 which suggests farewell with Pinkerton makes audiences entirely get focused. Cho Cho has every characteristics that a girl could want - shy and emotional yet sexy and proud. Every music pieces in the performance is so good, especially my pas de deux, solo music. It is a piece that moved my heart so I am pretty sure that the audience would love it too