Yuna Kim to perform "Danse macabre" again on a ballet stage with Google Gemini [Daily IT Pick for the 1st]

[The Financial News] Figure skating queen Yuna Kim will once again present her legendary "Danse macabre," this time not on ice but on a ballet stage. It is a bold artistic transformation she is attempting 12 years after her retirement.
According to industry sources on the 8th, Google has released a new Gemini campaign video featuring former national figure skater Yuna Kim collaborating with ballet legend Kang Sue-jin. The project follows the process of reinterpreting Kim’s iconic short program "Danse macabre" as a ballet piece, with Google Gemini appearing as a creative partner that accompanies her throughout this artistic journey.
The campaign video, directed by director Shin Woo-seok of Dolphin Kidnappers, focuses on expanding "Danse macabre," the program that led her to victory at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, into a new genre: ballet instead of figure skating.
Kang Sue-jin, artistic director of the Korea National Ballet, joined as a mentor, guiding choreography and stage movement. Throughout this process, Google Gemini provided extensive support, serving as a key partner that helped experts communicate creatively by assisting with everything from drafting choreography and planning stage direction to visualizing inspiration for costume design.
"Danse macabre" is a symbolic program in which Yuna Kim, wearing a striking black costume and delivering a charismatic performance at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, set a new world record and claimed her first world title, heralding the rise of the "figure queen." Google noted that this project carries the meaning of expanding the brightest moment of Kim’s career into a new artistic genre.
In particular, Google Gemini’s innovative features stood out during actual practice sessions. Using the camera-sharing function of Gemini Live, the team checked the ballerinas’ movements in real time and refined them with precision. Nano Banana 2 instantly turned abstract ideas into visual references, enhancing the completeness of the costume and stage design.

Director Shin Woo-seok said, "Google Gemini is more than just a technology; it is a collaborator that turns users’ inspiration into reality," adding, "I wanted to show that AI can become a bridge that allows human creative challenges to fully blossom."
Beyond the main video, Google will gradually release a short-form series that shares behind-the-scenes stories of Gemini and ways to use it in everyday life. In these short-form clips, viewers will get a rare glimpse of Yuna Kim’s humorous and down-to-earth daily life, such as her using Gemini to generate music or to satisfy small curiosities.
A Google representative stated, "We hope Google Gemini will establish itself as a reliable partner that adds inspiration to human creative challenges and helps individuals push their limitless potential even further," and added, "We plan to continue showcasing special journeys in which icons from various fields take on new challenges through Gemini."


yjjoe@fnnews.com Reporter Cho Yoon-joo Reporter