전 세계 무용수들의 등용문으로 우뚝 선 '서울국제무용콩쿠르' 개막<br /><br />An annual dance competition is set to get underway in Seoul... featuring contemporary dance, ballet and more.<br />And it'll feature some of the world's top talent.<br />Won Jung-hwan reports.<br />The Seoul International Dance Competition first began in 2004... and is regarded as a gateway for young and talented dancers.<br />The feast of dance competition, which is being held from Friday until the 27th,… will provide a platform for young dancers to compete in their own genres,... including ballet, contemporary dance, ethnic dance, and choreography.<br />The competition is neither the largest in the world,... nor the most prestigious,... but for over 15 years,… it has served as a stepping stone for many aspiring young dancers in Korea.<br />It has produced world class talent such as Kim Ki-min,... who became the first Asian ballerino to join Russia's Mariinsky ballet group,… and Lee Sang-eun,... a ballerina in Germany's Dresden ballet group.<br />And the executive director of the competition... hopes to expand its reputation further.<br />"We'll continue to invite foreign judges who lead and dance for the world's most renowned dance institutions so they can meet the best young dancers in Korea."<br />And she says that there is no better time than now to attract talented young dancers at the competition.<br />She also emphasized that the largest-ever number of dancers from abroad are taking part in this year's edition,... with some 30 percent of the total participants being foreigners.<br />"We have to follow the global trend, and that trend right now is K-Pop. I'm trying to include K-Pop dance in our competition so it can be open to everyone. We have a lot of room to showcase our young talent."<br />Starting from Friday,… some 350 participants will vie for the ultimate prize at Mapo Art Center.<br />Those who excel,... will be offered unique scholarship opportunities, including a chance to study abroad at renowned dance schools around the world,... in countries like France, the United Kingdom, and China.<br />Even if they don't make it to the podium,... most of the participants will be able to hone their dance skills during the 9-day event,... with one-point lessons being offered by world-class instructors and judges.<br />Through this unique mentorship opportunity,... the organizers hope the competition can really serve as a gateway for dancers to reach a higher plateau in their careers.<br />Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.<br />
