Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don, behind the podium, poses with participants of the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2023 during the event's closing ceremony in the South Chungcheong Province city, Oct. 5. Courtesy of Cheonan City By Jhoo Dong-chan Cheonan World Dance Festival 2024 is set to kick off on Sept.
25, bringing five days of vibrant cultural festivities to the city of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, marking the 20th anniversary of this annual event. The festival, organized by the Cheonan Foundation for Arts and Culture, will transform Cheonan Stadium as well as the streets of the city into a hub of international dance. This five-day cultural event will showcase 256 performance groups from 53 countries, celebrating a diverse array of dance traditions and styles and the global appeal of the event.
The festival's highlight, the World Dance Contest, will feature 30 teams from 29 countries, each presenting their unique dances accompanied by traditional music and costumes. It will also serve as a platform for fostering international cooperation through convening the Federation of International Dance Festivals' executive committee and congress, with aims to enhance cultural understanding and build relationships within the global dance community. In addition to traditional performances, the festival will reflect current trends with a hip-hop and street dance competition.
Sixteen groups from seven countries will compete in categories such as one-on-one freestyle sessions, a thre.