The final round of the 2018 Taiwan Creative Dance Competition will take place at the New Taipei City Arts Center on Aug. 31, followed by an awards ceremony during the evening.
First curated by the National Hsinchu Living Arts Center (NHCLAC) in 1996, the Taiwan Creative Dance Competition has now become one of the most significant dance events in Taiwan, attracting participants island-wide.
After the preliminary selection, a total of 30 dance troupes has made it to the final round. Poised to show off their dancing skills and choreographic creativity, these outstanding performers will strive to capture the 2018 championship and a cash prize of NT$200,000.
NHCLAC noted that in addition to 30 dances being performed at the final round, internationally renowned Taiwanese choreographers Benson Tsai Po-cheng (蔡博丞) and Lai Hung-chung (賴翃中) will stage their acclaimed choreography at the awards ceremony. Tsai's "Floating Flowers" and Lai's "Birdy" both captured first place at the Burgos-New York International Choreography Competition before.
31-year-old Tsai is the founder and current artistic director of B.DANCE. He has toured worldwide with his inaugural production "Floating Flowers, winning prizes in international dance competitions like the Jerusalem International Choreography Competition and the Copenhagen International Choreography Competition.
28-year-old Lai, the founder of Hung Dance, has just completed his 2018 tour of Spain. His dance piece "Birdy" has amazed the jury panel of the aforementioned Burgos-New York International Choreography Competition and the International Competition for Choreographers Hanover.
Director Lai Hsiu-feng (賴秀峰) of the National Dance Association, R.O.C. noted that to hold the awards ceremony immediately after the competition will intensify the atmosphere and make it a greater challenge for the participants, and yet the winners will feel a greater sense of honor and fulfillment.
Through the 2018 Taiwan Creative Dance Competition, the organizer hopes to promote Taiwan's dance culture on the international stage, and inspire more people from related fields to innovate and take a leap of faith.
The day-long final round will begin at 10am and the awards ceremony will be held at 7.30pm. Both events will be streamed live on the dance competition's official website.
Watch the highlights from last year's final round here: