SunMi Park is set to become an American Ballet Theatre principal dancer on September 1, following a promotion announced onstage after her July 15 performance of Swan Lake at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House.
The Korean ballerina had just taken on the demanding dual leads of Odette and Odile when ABT artistic director Susan Jaffe revealed the news during the curtain call. For audiences, it turned a major performance night into a defining career moment.
SunMi Park’s ABT principal dancer promotion
Park’s new rank is the highest within American Ballet Theatre, though the appointment does not formally begin until September 1. The distinction matters for readers searching the news now: the promotion was announced in July, while her principal dancer status takes effect with the 2026-27 season.
Her rise through ABT has moved quickly, especially from her entry into the main company. Park joined ABT Studio Company in 2019, then advanced through the company’s ranks:
- Apprentice with the main company in November 2021
- Corps de ballet member in February 2022
- Soloist in September 2022
- Principal dancer beginning September 1, 2026
ABT’s current artist biography still lists Park as a soloist, reflecting biographical information that has not yet been updated to match the newly announced appointment.
Why SunMi Park’s Swan Lake moment stands out
Park’s promotion came after her second performance as Odette and Odile, the White Swan and Black Swan roles at the center of Swan Lake. She made her debut in the pair of lead roles on June 20, then returned to the Metropolitan Opera House stage for the performance that ended with the announcement.
The two characters demand sharply contrasting stage presence, from Odette’s lyricism to Odile’s more forceful command. Park said she had not known the promotion was coming and was instead relieved to have completed the show well.
Jaffe described Park as a dancer who brings “a quiet strength to every role she performs.” Park has said that while she gets nervous before going onstage, distractions fall away once the performance begins and she can focus on dancing.
A Korean ballet milestone at American Ballet Theatre
Park will become ABT’s third Korean principal dancer, following Hee Seo and Joo Won Ahn. The appointment places her within a notable line of Korean artists who have reached the company’s top rank while building careers on one of American ballet’s most visible stages.
Her training began in South Korea, where she studied at Sunhwa Arts Middle School, Sunhwa Arts High School, and Korea National University of Arts. Park has credited that rigorous foundation with helping her adapt to life and work in the United States.
Before the September 1 transition, Park’s next confirmed ABT performances are Ballet Imperial at New York’s David H. Koch Theater in October. The principal title is now secured, but the next chapter will be defined by the roles she takes on after this breakthrough Swan Lake curtain call.