The Wave of Dance Unfolding at Han River Sebitseom: 'K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL'

by Kim Heeyun

Published 05 Oct.2023 13:12(KST)

21~22 Il, Hangang Sebitseom Floating Island Yebit Outdoor Stage

A platform for communication between Korean and international artists and Seoul citizens for ‘Hallyu culture and arts’ will be established.

2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL? Yebit, Permission to Dance Closing performance by LDP Dance Company. <br>[Photo by K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL]

2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL? Yebit, Permission to Dance Closing performance by LDP Dance Company.
[Photo by K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL]

The Korean Contemporary Dance Promotion Association (Chairman Yang Jeong-su) announced on the 5th that the ‘2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL: Yebit, Permission to Dance’ will be held on the outdoor stage of Yebit at Sebitseom Floating Island on the 21st and 22nd.

The ‘2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL: Yebit, Permission to Dance’ was produced after being selected for the 2023 Seoul City private festival support and promotion project. Former Busan International Film Festival Chairman Kim Dong-ho and Yang Jeong-su, Chairman of the Korean Contemporary Dance Promotion Association and Artistic Director of the K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL, serve as co-chairmen of the organizing committee.

In particular, this festival will present a program harmonizing various dance genres such as Korean dance, contemporary dance, ballet, line dance, and street dance.

This festival, featuring a dance relay with diverse participants including youth, people with disabilities, non-disabled people, and foreigners, is planned under the theme ‘The wave of Korean dance unfolds at Han River Sebitseom!’ and the concept ‘A global community toward Hallyu, united in dance,’ allowing dance experts, amateurs, and citizens of all ages, nationalities, and genres to enjoy together through the language of the body.

Set against the backdrop of Sebitseom, the festival offers a spatial story of ‘The wave of Seoul,’ the cultural and artistic center of the Han River. Over two days, the festival will proceed with a total of 11 detailed programs under the themes ‘World Dance Centered on Hallyu (21st)’ and ‘Citizens United by Dance (22nd).’

2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL? Yebit, Permission to Dance Closing performance by Wise Ballet Company. <br>[Photo by K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL]

2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL? Yebit, Permission to Dance Closing performance by Wise Ballet Company.
[Photo by K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL]

On the 21st, ‘World Dance Centered on Hallyu’ will feature ▲Line dance together at the Han River (4:00 PM?5:00 PM) ▲Young dancers’ fierce dance showcase (5:00 PM?5:30 PM) ▲Opening ceremony (5:30 PM?6:00 PM) and opening invited performance Issue n Trend (6:00 PM?7:00 PM) ▲Citizen participation performance K-WAVE DANCE, Everyone Together! (7:00 PM?7:40 PM) ▲Media show & open DJ (7:40 PM?8:30 PM). The invited opening performance groups include Poppin Hyun-jun and Lee Woo-jae, Bubbly Gumps and Kim Wan-hyuk, and Kim Byung-gyu’s Mind of Move Company.

On the 22nd, ‘Citizens United by Dance’ consists of ▲Networking - Cultural exchange workshop in nature (3:00 PM?4:00 PM) ▲Line dance together at the Han River (4:00 PM?5:00 PM) ▲Young dancers’ fierce dance showcase (5:00 PM?5:30 PM) ▲K-Art relay dance (5:30 PM?6:00 PM) ▲Closing invited performance United in Dance (6:30 PM?7:30 PM) ▲Yebit Romantic Busking (7:30 PM?8:30 PM). The closing invited performance groups include Kim Jae-seung’s Mahola Dance Company, Wise Ballet Company, and LDP (Laboratory Dance Project) Dance Company.

Festival director Park Soon-yong said, “The first K-Wave Dance Festival in 2023 will be a festival of expansion and harmony where the genres of K-POP and dance unite, and people worldwide come together through dance beyond Korea,” adding, “It will gift Seoul citizens and families a beautiful time where dance and music blend.”