Universal Ballet of Korea Shim Chung – The Blindman’s Daughter

Snowy World Entertainment
presents
Universal Ballet of Korea
Shim Chung – The Blindman’s Daughter
Fantasy ballet in three acts

Friday, July 22, 7:00 PM
Sunday, July 24, 4:00 PM
War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco

Tickets Now! http://www.cityboxoffice.com
$115 $105 $89 $79 $69 $40 $30

"..the storytelling and pageantry of Shim Chung were impressive, and clearly touched the hearts of audience members in a time when the essential humanity of dance seems largely lost." - Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times, Aug.4, 2001

General Director: Julia Hoonsook Moon
Artistic Director: Bingxian Liu
Music: Kevin Barber Pickard
Choreography: Adrienne Dellas

This modern day classical masterpiece was first created for Universal Ballet in 1986, combining an old Korean folktale with western classical ballet forms. Since its creation, Shim Chung has been staged 200 times at home and abroad, in a total of 10 different countries, receiving praise from the press and public alike. Shim Chung’s devotion to her blind father moves heaven to restore his eyesight, and illustrates ‘Hyodo’ (孝), dedication to serve one’s parents, which is considered a great virtue in Korea.

Learning that an offering to the temple will allow her father to regain his sight, Shim Chung accepts a bag of gold coins from a Sea Captain, willingly agreeing to be thrown overboard to protect the captain’s ship from the furies of the Sea Dragon King.
After the ship’s captain takes her to the ship, a storm arises, and Shim Chung, offering a ritual dance and prayer, plunges into the sea to save the ship.
Under the sea, Shim Chung is welcomed warmly by the Sea Dragon King, who asks her to marry him and share his kingdom, but Shim Chung is longing to see her father, and pleads with the king to send her back.
Arriving back in her homeland, she finds favor with the Korean King, who marries her, but still happiness eludes her until she finds her blind father. Embracing her father, Shim Chung’s tears of joy fall on his face, and he miraculously regains his sight.

Duration: 2 hrs 15 mins, including 2 intermissions
No admission for infants – in – arms or children below six years old.