Introduction to Hee Seo’s Journey

Hee Seo in Kirov Academy

Hee Seo is a Korean ballet dancer and principal artist at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Throughout her journey, she received multiple scholarships from various academies, allowing her and her family to continue supporting her ballet training. These opportunities deeply shaped her sense of gratitude and responsibility. As a former scholarship student herself, she now seeks to give back to young dancers who face similar financial challenges. Her sincerity, generosity, and artistic strengths inspired me to choose her as the subject of my research.

Academy, Kirov. “Alumni Hee Seo - Kirov Academy of Washington D.C.” Kirov Academy of Washington D.C., 3 June 2020, kirovacademydc.org/alumni/alumni-spotlight/alumni-hee-seo/ . Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Kourlas, Gia. “Hee Seo, American Ballet Theater Principal.” The New York Times, 3 May 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/05/05/arts/dance/hee-seo-american-ballet-theater-principal.html.

Rubin, Hanna. “Why ABT Principal Hee Seo Loves the Art of Giving Back.” Pointe Magazine, 15 Apr. 2019, pointemagazine.com/hee-seo-abt/#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Se-jeong, Kim. “Ballerina Seo Hee Marks 20 Years at ABT, Gives back to Young Dancers in Korea.” Koreatimes.co.kr, The Korea Times, 22 Aug. 2025, www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/people-events/20250822/ballerina-seo-hee-marks-20-years-at-abt-gives-back-to-young-dancers-in-korea. Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Wendy Perron. DanceMedia "Dance Magazine, Vol. 87, no. 5, "May, 2013." , Alexander Street,  2013. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cbibliographic_details%7C3909719.  Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Rubin, Hanna. “ABT's Homegrown Ballerinas: Isabella Boylston, Hee Seo and Sarah Lane

.” Pointe Magazine, May 31, 2015, https://pointemagazine.com/abt-ballerinas-boylston-lane-seo/#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.