The Cheonan World Dance Festival 2024 will begin on 25 September, marking its 20th anniversary as the largest annual festivity in South Chungcheong province. According to the Cheonan Foundation for Arts and Culture, around 4,000 dancers and performers from 54 countries will showcase a diverse array of dance traditions and styles over the five-day event. 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 festival will start with a welcome show by the Cheonan City Arts Company, followed by performances from pop stars Kwon Eun-bi and Song Ga-in at the opening ceremony at Cheonan Stadium. The second day will feature the gala of the Korea International Contemporary Dance Competition, leading up to the festival’s highlight events: the World Dance Contest, International Street Dance Championship, and a three-on-three tryout for the Korean national dance team. On September 27, the Street Dance Parade will take place in the Shinbu-dong area, featuring 1,900 performers from 47 foreign and local performance groups, as well as an alliance of hip-hop and street dance competitors, adding a festive atmosphere to the local streets.

The event aims to foster international cooperation by convening the Federation of International Dance Festivals’ executive committee and congress, enhancing cultural understanding, and building relationships within the global dance community. Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don expressed his excitement about the upcoming festival, stating, “This year’s festival is the largest to date. It is an opportunity to boast Cheonan’s rich cultural heritage. We should do our utmost in preparation.”

Last year’s festival attracted 870,000 visitors and performing artists, generating approximately 43.3 billion won in direct and indirect revenue for the local community. It was also listed among the country’s 25 best local festivals by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2009 and for three consecutive years from 2011.

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