From street dance to traditional dance, the Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival 2025 is blurring the boundaries of dance, coloring Cheonan, Chungnam, with a diverse array of dance and spectacular performances. The area around Cheonan Sports Complex, which marked its second day since the opening on the 25th, is bustling with enthusiasm from competitions by world-class dancers and citizen participation programs. The festival encompasses various genres including contemporary dance, dance sports, and traditional dances from around the world, solidifying its status as the largest dance festival in Korea.

 

World-Class Dance Competitions: A Platform for Competition and Exchange 

Throughout the festival period, major dance competitions unfold like a panorama, including the International Street Dance Championship, International Dance Competition, Korea International Contemporary Dance Competition, Grand Prize in Korean Dance, National Dance Sports Championship, and Pump It Up World Championship.

In particular, the International Street Dance Championship is the largest street dance world competition in Korea, enhancing its competitiveness and spectacle by expanding the competition programs. World-class street dancers, who have passed national preliminaries in 16 countries across 4 continents, compete in segmented events such as the 1ON1 Breaking World Final, 3ON3 World Final, and Continental Battle. The winner of the 1ON1 Breaking World Final earns the honor of representing South Korea at 'NANTERIOUSBREAK' in France in April next year. In the 3ON3 World Final, the top 16 teams from various countries are engaged in fierce competition for national honor.

The International Dance Competition features 24 teams from 23 countries across 5 continents, presenting a spectacular stage where traditions and creativity from various nations harmonize. This flagship program of the Heungtaryeong Dance Festival evaluates creativity, artistry, expression, and audience response comprehensively, awarding prize money totaling $43,500 to 10 teams, contributing to international exchange and the discovery of outstanding dancers.

Furthermore, to strengthen the festival's professionalism, the Grand Prize in Korean Dance, newly established this year, is captivating audiences with high-level artistry and fierce competition from 143 dancers in Korean dance, creative ballet, and contemporary dance.

 

Sharing the Joy of the Festival with Citizens 

In addition to the professional competitions, programs that citizens can enjoy together have further boosted the festive atmosphere. The 'Cheonan Retro Party', making its debut this year, featured youth and university clubs reinterpreting past trends with 2000s music and dance, creating a special occasion that bridges generations.

The 'Learn to Dance' programs held throughout the festival grounds offered citizens the opportunity to directly experience various genres like K-pop, street dance, and international traditional dance, transforming them from mere spectators into active participants in the festival.

Kim Seok-pil, Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor of Cheonan, stated, "The Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival 2025 is a festival for exchange and harmony through dance," and pledged to dedicate every effort to ensure visitors can enjoy the remaining festival period safely and cheerfully.

The Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival 2025 will continue until the 28th at Cheonan Sports Complex and throughout Cheonan city, inviting spectators into the colorful world of dance.