DaNCiNg iN The DMZ
s outh KoreAIn an interview with the news
agency, Kim Joo-hyeok, a 23-year-
old sergeant, says that ballet has
allowed him to de-stress in between
guarding the border. “There’s a lot
of tension here since we live in the
unit on the front line, which makes
me feel insecure at times,” he says.
“But through ballet, I am able to stay
calm and find balance as well as build
friendships with my fellow soldiers.”
Kim says he intends to continue
with his ballet lessons when he is
discharged from the army. agWhile most of the men had never
danced before joining the programme,
the initiative has been well supported,
and has even produced a performance
of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Lieutenant
Colonel Heo Tae-sun supports the
programme, saying that in addition to
allowing the men to relax, the regular
dance training improves their strength
and discipline: “Ballet requires a great
amount of physical strength and is
very good for strengthening muscle,
increasing flexibility, and correcting
posture,” he told Reuters.A group of South Korean soldiers
in the army’s 25th Division regularly
swap their army boots for ballet shoes
in order to unwind from their duty
patrolling the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)
between North and South Korea.
The men don grey shorts, T-shirts
and black ballet pumps, practising
their plies and tendus – in order to
relieve stress.
Every week, the 15 men gather for
their ballet lesson, instructed by a
ballet teacher from the Korean National
Ballet company.
IMAGE BY REUTERS PICTURES