Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Cheonan World Dance Festival in full swing with international lineup
Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don, center behind the podium, speaks during the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2024's opening ceremony at the Cheonan Stadium in the South Chungcheong provincial city, Wednesday. Courtesy of Cheonan City
By Jhoo Dong-chan
CHEONAN _ Cheonan World Dance Festival has kicked off with an international lineup and dozens of programs.
From now until Sunday, the city in South Chungcheong Province is hosting five days of vibrant cultural festivities, featuring around 4,000 dancers and performers from 54 countries showcasing their unique dance traditions and styles.
The festival, organized by the Cheonan Foundation for Arts and Culture, has transformed Cheonan Stadium and the city's streets into a hub of international dance. Marking its 20th anniversary, it brings together 256 homegrown and foreign performance groups under the slogan "Let's Dance in Cheonan."
"This year's dance festival is the largest ever with 4,000 performers from 54 countries," Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don said in his welcome speech during Wednesday's opening ceremony.
"I would like to express my gratitude for the great interest from visitors."
Starting with the Cheonan City Arts Company's welcome show, participating foreign performance groups were introduced with their teaser shows at the opening ceremony at the stadium.
THE STORIES, the troupe that won the festival's national dance contest last year, put on an energetic performance at the ceremony. Hotshot pop stars, including Kwon Eun-bi and Song Ga-in, were the closing performers. The entire ceremony was streamed live via YouTube.
The second day of the festival opened with the Korea Intentional Contemporary Dance Competition, followed by the World Dance Contest. The world dance contest featured 28 performance groups from 28 countries, each displaying their unique dances accompanied by traditional music and costumes. Sixteen countries participated in last year's edition.
A tryout took place to select Korea's national street dance team at the stadium's indoor tennis court on the same day. The winning team is set to compete at the Cheonan International Street Dance Championship World final slated for Saturday.
The international event, reflecting the current dance trends of hip-hop and street culture, will feature 16 groups from seven countries competing in categories such as one-on-one and three-on-three freestyle, underscoring the festival's commitment to engaging with younger visitors.
To close the second day, the foundation showcased two performances at the stadium's main stage — "Harmony of Korea" and "New World Fantasy."
The festival's highlight, the Street Dance Parade, will take place in the Shinbu-dong area on Friday evening. It will feature 1,900 performers from 47 teams from the World Dance Contest and an alliance of hip-hop and street dance competitors, adding a festive atmosphere to the streets.
Foreign performance groups, including teams from Albania, South Africa, Bulgaria, France, Germany and Mexico, are set to demonstrate and enjoy their traditional dances and music with the city's residents.
To enhance the visitor experience, Cheonan Stadium will host various dance-related activities for children and students, as well as a dining zone with dozens of food trucks and snack booths during the entire five-day event.
A free shuttle service is also available with 19 buses on three routes to provide easier access to the festival grounds.
The city stressed safety measures are a priority during the event, pledging close coordination with local police and fire departments, special traffic control systems and a contingency plan in place.
Car use has been banned in the festival area around Sinbu-dong to facilitate street performances and create a welcoming environment for attendees. The city also provides translation services and traffic control.
According to the art foundation, the event is also expected to serve as a platform for fostering international cooperation by convening the Federation of International Dance Festivals' executive committee meetings and congress during the event, to enhance cultural understanding and build relationships within the global dance community.
"I can't believe so many people have come out here," a Cheonan Girls' High School student surnamed Min said after the opening ceremony.
"I was just going to see the opening ceremony for Kwon Eun-bi, but I am definitely going again tomorrow."
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.