Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is set to return to South Korea in May, presenting the domestic premiere of “LAC,” a contemporary reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” The production, choreographed by artistic director Jean-Christophe Maillot, marks the company’s fifth visit to the peninsula. The tour begins May 13 at Hwaseong Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province, moves to Seoul Arts Center Opera House on May 16 and 17, and concludes May 20 at Daejeon Arts Center. The production will be attended by Maillot and Princess Caroline of Monaco — also known as Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover — who established the ballet company in 1985. Her visit is described as a private engagement in her capacity as company president. “LAC,” which premiered in 2011, strips away the traditional veneer of the 19th century fairy tale. In its place, Maillot and Prix Goncourt-winning writer Jean Rouaud have constructed a psychological drama centered on childhood trauma and familial tension. The aesthetic is defined by the stark scenography of French street artist Ernest Pignon-Ernest and costumes by
