Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival Marks 20th Anniversary with Focus on Dance

Opening Ceremony Speech Removed, Replaced with Various Performances
Over 4,000 Dancers from 55 Countries, Including International Dance Troupes and Delegations, Gather in Korea

Sunsun Andong, CEO of Cheonan Cultural Foundation, held a press conference on the 3rd at the briefing room of Cheonan City Hall and announced the progress of the 'Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival 2024,' which is just over 20 days away.

The 20th Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival, South Korea's representative dance festival, will be held from the 25th to the 29th at Cheonan Sports Complex and other locations.

On the 3rd, Andongsoon, CEO of the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, held a press conference at the Cheonan City Hall briefing room and announced the progress of the upcoming 'Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival 2024,' which is now about 20 days away.

The Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival began in 1987 as the 'Cheonan Samgeori Cultural Festival,' was renamed the 'Cheonan Heungtaryeong Festival' in 2003, and has been called the 'Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival' since 2011. It is the nation's largest dance festival, themed around dance to revitalize the city by highlighting its regional identity and to promote harmony among the dances and arts of countries around the world.

Marking its 20th anniversary, Cheonan City and the Cheonan Cultural Foundation have significantly revamped the programs to stay true to the essence of the festival, which is dance.

In particular, the formal opening ceremony speeches have been eliminated and replaced with a variety of performances.

The number of participating countries and participants has also greatly increased. This year, 1,000 members from dance troupes and delegations representing 55 countries, including Mexico, France, Malaysia, Germany, South Africa, and Poland, have confirmed their participation.

The main program, the International Dance Competition, will see its largest scale ever, with 30 teams from 29 countries participating this year, up from 16 countries last year. Notably, the competition has moved beyond its tradition of only showcasing traditional dances, now offering a variety of performances from traditional to contemporary dances reflecting the latest trends from each country.

In line with the new era, an International Street Dance Championship has also been newly established.

The International Street Dance Championship, where dancers compete in styles such as Popping, Waacking, Locking, Breaking, and Hip-hop, will be held in four categories: Korea National Qualifier, International Street Dance Championship, U-19 Freestyle Open Session, and Freestyle Open Session. A total of 16 teams from 7 countries, including Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, have confirmed their participation.

Teams participating in the International Dance Competition and the International Street Dance Championship will also join the festival's signature event, the Street Dance Parade, on the 27th.

The Street Dance Parade will take place on the nine-lane road in front of Arario in Sinbu-dong and Cheonan Express Bus Terminal, where more than 50 teams from Korea and abroad will present K-pop, street dance, and various performances, mingling with the audience.

The National Dance Competition has been streamlined from six categories?youth, general, Heungtaryeong, university dance, dance musical, and street dance?to three: student, general, and Heungtaryeong, to encourage participation and ensure fairness.

For the student category, the eligibility, initially limited to enrolled students, is being adjusted to allow out-of-school youth to participate as well.

In addition, the Federation of International Dance Festivals (FIDAF), with participation from 83 countries, will hold its world general assembly to discuss building cooperative systems and development plans among global festivals. This assembly will be attended by 46 representatives from 40 countries.

For families and children, various performances and hands-on activities have been prepared, including children's performances, Neungsojeon, and media experience booths. Large sunshades and parasols will be installed around the venue, with 10 food trucks and 10 quick meal booths also in operation.

Andongsoon, CEO of the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, stated, "Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival has become a world-class dance festival that attracts global attention and participation. We will do our utmost to provide diverse cultural and artistic experiences for everyone and to host a festival that satisfies all visitors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.