‘Eve’: Dance Co-Stars Can’t Stop Praising Seo Yea-ji’s Professionalism While on Set: ‘She’s a Perfectionist’
Seo Yea-ji has astounded global fans with her grand return to the small-screen in the latest K-drama Eve. She stars as Lee Ra-el, a woman who has planned the perfect revenge for the past 13 years. While the drama is well into its storyline, fans can not stop talking about Seo’s tango sequence in Eve Episode 1. Her dance partner, Gustavo Álvarez, spills the tea on how Seo went above and beyond for her role.
Lee Ra-el uses tango to entice her prey, LY Group CEO Yoon-kyum
In the first episode of Eve, Ra-el’s plan is set in motion when she takes center stage to dance the tango at her daughter’s school function. The sound of the bandoneon peaks LY Group CEO Yoon-kyum’s interest. Under the spotlights, Ra-el emerges in a champagne-colored beaded dress and dances into her partner’s arms.
It took all the passion, fire, and seduction to entice Yoon-kyum. The scene was a powerful way to introduce Seo as Ra-el and kick off Eve. Fans have become enamored with Seo’s grace and passion on stage and wondered who the male dancer was.
Gustavo Álvarez is a tango dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Argentina who was asked to participate in the K-drama. In a recent interview, he reveals Seo went beyond what any actor has done when learning the tango, which surprised him and his partner.
Seo Yea-ji learned the entire tango choreography on her own for ‘Eve’ and wanted perfection
In an interview with JiniChannel on Instagram, Álvarez gave some behind-the-scenes tidbits of what it was like working with Seo for Eve. Fair warning, the interview is in Spanish, and the quotes are rough translations.
Álvarez explains that Seo had arrived on set having already learned and memorized the tango choreography. But he explains, “She is a perfectionist. Someone who wants things to go well.” The tango dancer spoke of one instance during filming where Seo was intense in her facial expressions, which are often seen in tango. It allowed Álvarez to do the same.
Later in the interview, Álvarez brings Tali Gorla to speak of her experience with Seo.
“The professionalism of this woman, I was shocked. In any other part of the world [, I don’t know in the world,] any other person would learn the general choreography. The short takes that are upper body because you are not a dancer,” said Gorla. “She learned the entire choreography. And it’s not an easy choreography for someone who is not a dancer. Because she had to be lifted, had tricks, had a lot of balance, which is not easy.”
Seo Yea-ji wanted the tango to be flawless in ‘Eve,’ despite certain difficulties
Gorla explains the awe of seeing Seo for the first time during filming and says she arrived wearing professional tango shoes. Seo got better and better during the two-day filming of the scene, but Gorla explains Seo was, “Always, ‘I will learn the entire choreography and do it.'”
Seo filmed the entire tango choreography, and Gorla says the actor found her comfort zone as time passed. “The more she was comfortable in her steps, the more her character’s personality came through. She was winning with her presence during filming.”
But Gorla and Álvarez were both stunned by Seo’s dedication to making the tango scene look effortless in Eve, despite not needing to. Gorla explains that as a dancer, you have to register space and movement, which can be difficult for a non-dancer. While the staff had dance doubles, Seo insisted on doing it independently. “I think it was something for herself to make herself feel worthy. She learned the entire choreo, but there was no need,” said Gorla.
“She could have relaxed during the stunt scenes, but almost all the takes are her,” said Gorla. But the real difficulty came with the dress Seo wore. The dress is not made for tango due to its materials and weight. “She (Seo) danced with the same dress the double also used,” said Gorla. Working with Seo, Álvarez applauded her professionalism, as she redid scenes despite being tired.
Fans can watch the behind-the-scenes filming on Instagram.
