Ballet stars representing Paris·Milan·New York will gather in Seoul this summer. The gala ‘Our Era Etoiles 2026’, where audiences can see top dancers from around the world together on one stage, raises its curtain at the Seoul Arts Center starting on the 29th.

Park Sae-Eun, the first Asian to become an etoile (principal dancer) at the Paris Opera Ballet, is personally overseeing casting and curating the program, heightening anticipation among ballet fans. Joining are Paris Opera Ballet etoiles Amandine Albisson, Bleuenn Battistoni, Paul Marque, and Guillaume Diop, along with rising next-generation talent Lorenzo Relli.

They are joined by La Scala Ballet etoile Nicoletta Manni and principal dancer Timofey Andrijashenko, and by New York City Ballet principals Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia. Audiences can compare and enjoy, all on one stage, the distinctive French elegance, the dramatic expressiveness of Italy, and the dynamic energy of American ballet.

The performances unfold in two programs, A·B, spanning classical and contemporary. From the emblematic classical repertoire of Rudolf Nureyev that symbolizes the identity of the Paris Opera Ballet to works by leading choreographers of contemporary ballet such as Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, David Dawson, and Benjamin Millepied, the program offers a multidimensional view of current global ballet.

Program A consists of stages that distill the harmony of classical and contemporary ballet while highlighting the character of each company and the strengths of the dancers.

The program opens with <Other Dances> by Jerome Robbins, a choreographer emblematic of New York City Ballet. Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia dance in sync to Chopin's melodies, with live performance by pianist Son Jeong-Beom.

Next, La Scala Ballet's Nicoletta Manni and Timofey Andrijashenko perform the contemporary ballet <Caravaggio>, and Park Sae-Eun with Guillaume Diop present the balcony pas de deux from the Nureyev version of <Romeo and Juliet>. Amandine Albisson with Lorenzo Relli in <Mirage>, and Bleuenn Battistoni with Paul Marque in the Black Swan pas de deux from <Swan Lake> follow, showcasing the tradition and virtuosity of the Paris Opera Ballet.

Part 2 begins with <Grand Pas Classique>, followed by <On the Nature of Light> by David Dawson, <Tarantella> by George Balanchine, and <Night Falls> by Benjamin Millepied. Through a repertoire that traverses classical and contemporary, audiences can encounter the character and aesthetics of each company all in one place.

The finale of Program A is the Meditation pas de deux from <Thais>, danced by Park Sae-Eun and Guillaume Diop. Live performance by cellist Baek Seung-Yeon and pianist Son Jeong-Beom will add vivid vitality and a lingering resonance to the stage.

In Program B, the world premiere of a new solo, <Moonlight>, created for Park Sae-Eun by former Paris Opera Ballet etoile and choreographer Jean-Guillaume Bart, will be presented. Set to Debussy with live performance by Son Jeong-Beom, the work condenses the musicality of Park Sae-Eun and the lyricism characteristic of French ballet. Following the highlights from <The Sleeping Beauty> that drew high praise last year, this year will also newly feature highlights from <La Bayadere>.

Performances will take place on the 29th and 30th (Program A), and on August 1 and 2 (Program B), at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater in Seocho-gu, Seoul.