Cheonan World Dance Festival underway with international lineup

Cheonan acting Mayor Kim Seok-pil poses during the opening ceremony for the 2025 Cheonan World Dance Festival at Cheonan Sports Complex in South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Cheonan City

The city of Cheonan has transformed itself into a global stage for dance, as the 2025 Cheonan World Dance Festival kicked off with vibrant performances and international flair.

Hosted and organized by the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, the five-day festival opened at Cheonan Sports Complex in South Chungcheong Province on Wednesday, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the South Chungcheong Provincial Government and the International Dance Council joining as supporters.

Held under the theme of “Dance with Spirit of Challenge and Creativity,” the 21st edition of the festival highlights both tradition and contemporary expression, bringing together participants across generations and borders.

This year, the festival is expected to set a new record for international participation. While last year saw participants from 54 countries, the 2025 event has drawn 4,000 dancers and visitors from 61 countries.

Dancers perform during the 2000s-themed “Cheonan Retro Party” program of the 2025 Cheonan World Dance Festival at Cheonan Sports Complex in South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Cheonan City

The program lineup includes the National Dance Competition, International Dance Competition, Street Dance Parade, Cheonan International Dance Competition and the National Dance Sports Championship.

The National Dance Competition, the largest of its kind in Korea, features 90 teams in three categories: general, youth, and "Heungtaryeong." Teams from Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, South Gyeongsang Province, Daejeon and Busan, as well as Japan and Taiwan, are competing.

The International Dance Competition welcomes 24 teams from 23 countries across five continents. Highlights include a Bulgarian troupe with 85 years of history, a Chilean team that has performed more than 5,500 times in 49 countries and a troupe from the Philippines that won a silver medal at the 2017 festival.

The Cheonan International Street Dance Championship has expanded this year, with 16 groups from 16 countries. New programs include continental battles, a breaking world final and continental qualifiers.

The festival’s signature Street Dance Parade takes place on Friday, moving along a 550-meter stretch from Bangjuk-an Intersection to Terminal Intersection in downtown Cheonan. A total of 37 teams — 22 from abroad, 12 from Korea and three noncompetitive groups — involving 2,000 dancers will perform. A new continental street dance battle will also be staged during the parade, with performers from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the Americas.

Other highlights include the Korea Dance Awards for professional dancers, the National Sports Dance Championship and the debut of the Pump It Up World Championship, based on the arcade game now recognized as an official esport. Top international players will compete in high-level rhythm and step challenges.

Additional highlights include workshops covering street dance, traditional dance and K-pop, a 2000s-themed “Cheonan Retro Party” and “DANCEFLEX: EDM Heung Night,” featuring influencer DJs and K-EDM performances.

The festival also supports the local economy with booths for small and medium-sized businesses, local agricultural products and urban farming displays, along with citizen participation programs such as the township cultural arts stage and random play dance events.

Dancers perform during the International Dance Competition of the 2025 Cheonan World Dance Festival at Cheonan Sports Complex in South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Cheonan City