Cheonan's traditional tale 'Neungsojeon' and dance troupes from 23 countries hold a 900-meter street march

A large-scale mobile street parade combining Cheonan's representative folklore, "Neungsojeon," and overseas dance troupes unfolded at Cheonan Samgeori Park on the 4th.

The area around Samgeori Park was swept up in rising festival excitement as an overseas team parade featuring some 600 international dancers took place.

At the head of the procession, 20 actors reinterpreting the local tale "Neungsojeon" with a modern twist served as guides. Following the cast, who led the storyline, dance troupes from 23 countries across five continents—including Argentina, Senegal, and French Polynesia—marched to upbeat rhythms in their gorgeous, traditional native attire.

Participants captured the attention of spectators by marching along a 900-meter main loop of the park, starting from the Sunken Plaza and passing through the Central Plaza, Culture Terrace, and Flexible Plaza.

In particular, the "2-minute Relay Traditional Dance Performance," held whenever the procession stopped at major checkpoints, transformed the park into a massive outdoor festival ground with dynamic movements and percussion melodies embodying each country's unique characteristics.

As diverse dance styles from around the world were layered onto the multi-dimensional narrative of "Neungsojeon," newly clothed as a mobile musical, citizens and holiday-goers visiting the park responded with cheers and applause.

Cheonan Mayor Chang Ki-su stated, "This was a festival of harmony that melted the diverse dance cultures of the world onto a single stage, based on 'Neungsojeon,' a story unique to our region," adding, "It was a meaningful moment where citizens breathed together and enjoyed a world-class feast of dance unfolding in a downtown park."

Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival Reaches Weekend Peak with 16-Nation B-Boying Battle and Silent Party

World-class street dance battles and unique dance parties unfolded consecutively on the 4th around the Cheonan Stadium and Cheonan Samgeori Park, where the "Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival 2026" is currently underway.

At the special stage in the indoor tennis court of Cheonan Stadium, the "International Street Dance Championship (CIDC) 1ON1 Breaking World Final" was held, featuring 100 B-boys and B-girls from 16 countries.

In the main tournament, where the top 16 qualifiers from the 1-on-1 preliminary battles faced off, high-difficulty techniques such as breathtaking windmills and powerful freezes poured out, drawing gasps of admiration from the audience.

The ultimate winner of this competition was awarded a ticket to the main rounds of the breaking world championships to be held in Taiwan in 2026 and France in 2027.

On the same evening, a unique "Silent DJ Party" was held on the lawn of Cheonan Samgeori Park, catching the eye as a way to enjoy music without generating surrounding noise.

Wearing wireless headphones, the audience filled the lawn with their own unique dance moves to trendy beats spun by DJs KALI, LiFY, and Bongi.

Although no music could be heard externally, a unique scene unfolded as hundreds of spectators, entranced by the rhythms inside their headphones, simultaneously jumped and cheered.

In addition, the "Cheonan Ballroom Dance Grand Prix" was held amidst the splendid melodies of five Latin disciplines at the Sunken Plaza of Cheonan Samgeori Park, adding diversity to the festival.

Cheonan Mayor Chang Ki-su remarked, "The passionate energy of world-class street dancers and the unique participatory party where citizens threw themselves into the action blended together to dye the entire city of Cheonan in a massive dance party," concluding, "Through the remainder of the festival period, we will continue to create a festival ground where anyone, regardless of border or generation, can become one through dance and enjoy themselves."