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 three-on-three tryout for the Korean national dance team and an international street dance competition, underscoring the festival's commitment to engaging with younger visitors. The Street Dance Parade will take place at the Shinbu-dong area on Sept. 27, with 30 teams from the World Dance Contest as well as an alliance of hip-hop and street dance competitors, adding a festive atmosphere to the local streets.
Participants of the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2023 perfrom during the its street parade program in the South Chungcheong Province city, Oct 8. To enhance the visitor experience, Cheonan Stadium will host various dance-related activities for children, a dining zone with 10 food trucks and snack booths and a free shuttle service operating on three routes to provide easier access to the festival grounds. The foundation is committed to ensuring a successful event.
“The Cheonan World Dance Festival has now become an international event for dance lovers, with its 20-year-long history,” said Ahn Dong-soon, president of the Cheonan Foundation for Arts and Culture. “We will do our best until the last minute in preparation for the festival’s success.” The foundation vowed to complete the preparations by Sept 22.
Safety measures will be a priority, with close coordination with local police and fire departments, special traffic control systems and a contingency plan in place. The festival area around Sinbu-dong will be pedestrianized to facilitate street performances and create a welcoming environment for attendees. The city will also recruit volunteers for translation services, traffic control and assisting with missing children.
Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don expressed his excitement about the upcoming festival. “This year’s festival is at an all-time large scale. It is an opportunity to boast Cheonan’s rich cultural heritage.
We should do our utmost in preparation," Park said. According to the city, a total of 870,000 visitors and performing artists joined last year’s festival, resulting in about 43.3 billion won in direct and indirect revenue for the local community.
It was also listed in the country’s 25 best local festivals by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2009 and three consecutive years from 2011. A promotional poster for the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2024 / Courtesy of Cheonan Foundation for Arts and Culture.
