Global K-POP Dance Challenge concludes with 30 teams from 30 regions and countries
Event ran Oct. 24–Nov. 7, drawing 12,594 cumulative attendees; 96.3% satisfaction rate per showing
The city of Hanam announced Monday that it successfully concluded the Global K-POP Dance Challenge on Saturday at the lawn plaza of Misa Lake Park, bringing together dancers from around the world and local residents.
K-pop dancers from across the globe gathered in Hanam to compete, and as the music played, participants and residents took to the floor together. From passionate competitive performances by domestic and international dancers to a random-play dance session uniting participants and spectators, the final stage of the Global K-POP Dance Challenge set Misa Lake Park ablaze with energy.
Held under the slogan "Shake Up Hanam," the event ran from Oct. 24 to Nov. 7 across the Misa Culture Street and Misa Lake Park area in three showings. It drew a cumulative audience of 12,594, with 30 teams participating from 30 regions and countries. Satisfaction surveys conducted after each showing found that an average of 96.3 percent of respondents said they were satisfied.
The centerpiece of the final showing was a global dance competition in which domestic and international dancers faced off. Sixteen teams that had cleared the preliminary rounds performed across a range of genres — K-pop dance covers, street dance and choreography. International dance teams from eight countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, added a global dimension to the competition by showcasing their individual styles and skills.
Five judges presided over the competition: J BLACK, a leading Korean street dancer and choreographer; Park Jeong-woo, known as Poppin Mett; Kim Pyeong-ya; the dancer Viewtii; and Jeon Hong-jun, chief executive of Attrakt. J BLACK drew particular attention as a judge, being widely recognized through Mnet programs such as "Dancing 9" and "Hit the Stage."
Teams were scored on a combination of audience votes worth 20 points and judges' evaluations worth 80 points. The overall grand prize went to NightRosy of France. BLAST from Peru took the top international award, while J-Kingdom from Tongyeong claimed the top domestic prize. ID, representing the United States and the United Kingdom, won the international excellence award, and CB Crew from Hanam took the domestic excellence award.
Following the competition, a random-play dance session put residents and participants at the center of the stage. As global influencers and foreign dancers who had competed began dancing to K-pop music, spectators in the crowd naturally joined in. Participants and audience members mingled freely, enjoying the music and dancing in a scene that transcended nationality and generation.
Interactive programs gave residents a richer K-pop experience. At an idol merchandise booth, visitors could make their own keyrings and keycaps, while participatory events — including K-pop face painting, a one-second song challenge and a reels zone — offered a variety of activities for attendees.
Alongside these, the Hanam B-Boy Troupe delivered a K-pop fusion performance, followed by sets from KEYVITUP, AtHeart and Jang Han-eum. Special guest ARTBEAT also performed, capping off the final night of the event.
Hanam city and the Hanam Cultural Foundation said the event confirmed the potential of a global cultural festival where K-pop dancers from home and abroad and local residents come together. The city said it plans to continue developing diverse cultural content to give residents rich opportunities to enjoy the arts, and to work toward establishing Hanam as a K-pop cultural city that connects with the world.
"I am grateful to the residents and domestic and international participants who lit up the Misa area with K-pop for three weeks," Hanam Mayor Lee Hyeon-jae said. "I will work to ensure that the passion for K-pop dance that started in Hanam spreads across the world, and that Hanam becomes a city that anyone who loves K-pop simply must visit."
pjh@heraldcorp.com
