“Let’s dance in Cheonan”
While 13 countries dance teams from abroad including Brazil, Bulgaria, the
Czech Republic, Israel, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland,
Russia, Seychelles, Slovakia were participating in the 14th Cheonan World
Dance Festival, over 30 senior diplomats including envoys from countries
which dispatched their dance teams to Cheonan shined this year’s Cheonan Dance Festival with their attendance at firsthand.
Starting from H.E. Bulgaria Amb. Petar Andonov, Israel Amb. Chaim Choshen,
Latvia Amb. Peteris Vaivars, Brazil Amb. Luis Fernando de Andrade Serra,
Romania Amb. Mihai Ciompec, and last but not least Spain Gonzalo Ortiz Diez-Tortosa graced the official opening ceremony of the 14th Cheonan World
Dance Festival with their spouses in some countries which was held at the
Walnut Tree Theatre, the Cheonan concourse of three streets Park on 19:00
pm on last Sep. 13th.
While the Chungnam Korean Folk Music Orchestra was heralding its start
of the 14th Cheonan World Dance Festival with their performances at the
Walnut Tree Theatre packed with over 15,000 spectators from both at Cheon
City and abroad, Honorable Cheonan City Mayor Koo Bon-young declared the official opening of the 14th Cheonan World Dance
Festival, saying that Cheonan World Dance Festival dreams for a world
united with dance.
By his greeting words as capacity of Representative of the Turkish Delegation,
Turkey sister city Bueyuekcekmece Mayor Dr. Hasan Akguen said such festival
like the Cheonan World Dance Festival is important for the peace and
harmony between countries around the world, adding he is personnaly
coming to Cheonan for the 4 consecutive years.
On behalf of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps., Bulgaria Amb. Petar Andonov
revealed his big expectation, saying: “Because from Bulgaria as well,
Ensemble for folk dances “Nikola Ginov”Bourgas-Bulgaria will take part in this year’s Cheonan World Dance Festival, we are looking forward for not only me,
Bulgaria Amb. to the Republic of Korea, but also all Embassy diplomats
including some envoys to seeing the performances representing their countries”.
(See the excerpts of Bulgaria Amb. at the end of this article!)
Fireshow consisted of fireworks & passion ceremonies and entrance
performances proceeded with the national flag at the head for the 13
countries were its highlight to herald the gorgeous start of the 14th
Cheonan World Dance Festival.
Prior to its official opening ceremony, the welcome reception was held
at the willow theatre with the emcees of announcer Moon So-ri & team
leader Imjeon-bae from the Cheonan Cultural Foundation with the attendance of over
300 invited guests including Goyang City mayor Choi Sung, Asan City
mayor Bok Ki-wang, assemblymen from both Chungcheongnamdo and Cheonan City,
and last but not least from Diplomatic Corps, Seoul as well as Turkey Delegations.
In his welcome remarks, Cheonan City mayor Koo Bon-young expressed his sincere thanks, saying that Cheonan City sincerely
thanks for gracing with us in a meaningful venue the world is united with dances.
Koo in particular asked for the Diplomatic Corps. and distinguished guests
to do their efforts for the publicity of the Cheonan World Dance Festival,
in terms of its harmony and beauty among others. Koo stressed that
Cheonan is a city where festivals are becoming routine and every day
becomes festivals.
On behalf of its assemblymen, chairman Jeon Jong-han from Cheonan City Parliament pointed out: “Festivals allow to
recharge life’s energy, providing citizens and visitors with fun and satisfaction”,
adding Cheonan deserves its round of big applauds with its Cheonan
World Dance Festival which drew 1.2 million visitors last year.
Lawmaker Park Wan-joo, member of the National Assembly, said he sincerely hopes for the
14th Cheonan World Dance Festival to settle down as a festival which
prays for the peace toward the entire world beyond the Republic of Korea.
Before the welcome reception, participating Diplomatic Community
dropped by Madanggeuk Neungsojeon as part of their first famtour
programs which was sufficient to allow visitors to feel the atmosphere
of the Cheonan World Dance Festivals entirely. Moreover ahead to
arriving to the festival venue, Gakwonsa temple visit provided Diplomatic
Community with a good opportunity to see its main temple of a total of
200 pyeong, the largest main building of a temple on the peninsular.
In order to celebrate its 14th anniversary, Cheonan World Dance Festival
offered more diverse programs than ever, providing a lot of opportunities
packed with fascinating sights to enjoy and the fun memories visitors
including Diplomatic Community will cherish, including the dance contest
open to everyone, according to the Cheonan Cultural ''Foundation, its organizer.
During the period of the 14th Cheonan World Dance Festival, spectators
including Diplomatic Community were able to enjoy the largest street
dance parade passing through the center of the city, and the international
dance competition that dancers from various countries show their traditional
dance for the audience’s memorable experience.
For reference, Folk dance group introduction from a total of 13 countries
dance teams are as follows:
1) Latvia: Folk dance group ROTALA
Folk dance group ROTLA was founded in 1946. Till nowadays we are well
known dance group in Latvia – with our serious attitude towards dance
and with our willingness to give incredible adoration to our audience.
ROTALA started to reap laurels in 1980 - got 3rd place in the most
important dance competition of Latvia.
2) The Folk Dance Ensemble PROMYKI Wieliszew, Poland: The Folk Dance
Ensemble PROMYKI is a group representing Wieliszew Commune, Mazovian
province, Legionowski county in central Poland. The ensemble cultivates
Polish dances, songs and traditional customs as well as Polish national dances
3) Mexico Compania de Danza Folklorica Kaambal: The folklore company
Kaambal is based in Merida, Mexico. it has represented to Yucatan in
national and international events around the country also during the official
visit of President of China to Mexico.
4) Slovakia FS Borievka: The beginnings of the 37 years old Folkore
Ensemble Borievka dates back to 1978, when a folklore club of the former
faculty of Aeronautics of the Air Force Academy was founded. First
members of the above mentioned club were the students of the Air Force Academy.
5) Russia State Dance Ensemble “Ural”: The “Ural” is a visit card not only
of the region but of the all Russia too. The South Ural is a birthplace of
the company that has determined topics, plots and images of dances.
6) Bulgaria Ensemble for folk dances “Nikola Ginov” Bourgas - Bulgaria:
The Ensemble for folk dances at the Youth Centre for culture in Bourgas,
was founded in 1974. The performers are young people aged 16 to 27 –
mainly schoolboys and schoolgirls, students, workers. During its relatively
short existence the Ensemble has taken part in international festivals in
Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, etc.
7) Folklore ensemble Javorníček Brno, Czech Republic: The ensemble
commenced its activities in 1958 when the adult group called ”Vlajka Mladi“ (Flag of Youth) aunched a project for children and named it ”Vlajecka“ (Little Flag) which was later re-named to Javornicek.
8) Israel: Hora Jerusalem ensembles are the pioneers folklore ensembles in Israel.
For the last 55 years, our association, used the best choreographers in Israel,
and create a very wide and diverse performance repertoire. The uniqueness
of "Hora Jerusalem" dance troupes is in their ability to combine traditional
repertoire and achieve the highest standards in all aspects of dance:
9) Brazil: Aldeia dos Anjos is right now one of the most successful folklore
groups of Brazil, having been 11 times Champion and 9 times vice-champion of the ENART – Meeting of Arts and Traditions- the biggest competitive festival in Latin America gathering over 200 dance
groups every year in southern Brazil.
10) The Philippines: Me'dal Kolon Datal Dance &Theater Ensemble, Inc
(MKDDTEI) was organized on July 2000 with 16 original members coming
from the different secondary schools in the City of Koronadal.
11) Peru: CULTURAL ASSOCIATION C.I.D.A.N. "MY PERU" is created on
November 15, 1985 In the Incontrastable City of Huancayo - Peru, thanks
to the passion and love to preserve our own culture and traditions.
12) Seychelles: Primarily a traditional and contemporary, Guirlande was
founded by Daniella Rose, and the former Director of the College of the
Arts, Vivienne CLEMENT. It has grown into a dance family of more than
10 members comprising senior students and teachers of the Dance Faculty
at the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts.
13) Malaysia: Duta Budaya of UNITAR International University has been
established since 2004 under Student Well Being Services (SWB) to cultivate
the interest among students in cultural and heritage activities, Duta Budaya
has introduced several activities in which students learn and experienced
the beauty of the exotic Malaysian culture and tradition
The following are GREETING REMARKS by H.E. Petar Andonov, Ambassador
of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Korea at the Official Opening
Ceremony of the 2017 Cheonan World Dance Festival (19:00, Sep. 13)-Ed.
Honorable Cheonan City Mayor Ku Bon-young,
Dear Mr.Park Sang-kyu, President, Cheonan Cultural Foundation,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
First of all, on behalf of all my colleagues, ambassadors and other members
of the diplomatic corps in Seoul representing 14 participating countries I
would like to express our gratitude and high appreciation for inviting us to
this exciting and inspiring festival, Cheonan World Dance Festival!
We heard that Cheonan World Dance Festival celebrates the traditional
dances, songs and costumes of Korea. As far as I know, it is Korea’s
largest dance festival.
I feel much honored because of this year’s participation at 14th Cheonan World Dance Festival of the Bulgarian folk
dance group “Nikola Ginov” from the beautiful city of Bourgas, located on
the Black Sea and its Youth Center for Culture.
We are looking forward to see the performances of the very talented dance
teams from as Brazil, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Israel, Latvia, Malaysia,
Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia and the Seychelles.
We are also looking forward to enjoying the large street dance parade
passing through the center of the beautiful city of Cheonan with many
cultural, historic and natural sites to visit, and the international dance
competition where dancers from various countries will show their traditional
dance as a memorable experience for the audience.
Once again, on behalf of all my colleagues from the diplomatic corps in Seoul
I would like to express our sincere thanks for inviting us to Cheonan
World Dance Festival and to wish a success to all the participants and organizers.
Thank you very much !