The ‘2024 Andong International Mask Dance Festival’, which will be held in Andong from September 27 to October 6, is just two days away. This festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has established itself as a representative cultural tourism festival in Korea and has received attention and love from people all over the world.
The Andong International Mask Dance Festival began in 1997 based on the Hahoe Byeolsingut Mask Dance, which has been passed down for 800 years in Hahoe Village, a World Heritage Site, and has welcomed numerous domestic and foreign tourists every year through the world-class cultural materials of masks and mask dance. This year, the festival will be held against the backdrop of Andong Jungang Line 1942 Andong Station, Mask Dance Park, and the downtown area, showcasing its status as a new global festival.
This festival is the largest ever, with 36 performance groups from 26 countries around the world officially participating, and including foreign teams that participated voluntarily, a total of about 50 teams participating, providing a variety of things to see.
On October 4th, a special event will be held with Peru as the guest country. This event, which will be more meaningful with the attendance of the Peruvian city of Cusco and the Peruvian Ambassador to Korea, will consist of traditional performances and cultural exchange ceremonies from both countries. In particular, the performance in Korea by Peruvian ‘Q-POP’ singer Lenin Tamayo, who showcases the fusion of K-POP and Quechua, is drawing attention. Experiential events and exhibitions promoting Peru’s diverse culture and tourism will also be held throughout the festival.
On October 5th, a large-scale ‘Vitalmin Nanjang’ will be held in downtown Andong with 1,000 local residents. They will dance to the theme of Hahoe Byeolsingut Mask Dance and have a time of wearing masks and mingling with others. The parade from Daegu Bank to Daedong Stage will also feature foreign performance groups, adding to the excitement of the festival.
The mask dance troupe, which is popular at the festival every year, will carry out various activities this year with the theme of Obangsinki (the five colors and various programs of the mask dance festival, symbolizing people from all over the world). The mask dance troupe, which consists of about 30 local students, will perform guerrilla performances throughout the festival site and communicate with the audience through theme performances and photo times.
This year’s festival will present various attempts to strengthen the identity of masks. A ‘mask change zone’ will be operated within the festival grounds, and anyone passing through this space must wear a mask. Through this, the plan is to provide a unique experience utilizing masks throughout the festival. In addition, there are various things to see, such as an exhibition of world masks, an exhibition of award-winning works from the creative mask contest, and the creation of a mask object street.
Domestic and international performing groups participating in the festival also wear masks and perform parades and busking, allowing you to enjoy the joyful festival atmosphere with masks throughout the festival site.
The Andong Jungang Line 1942 Andong Station site will feature a large stage and various shops, adding to the excitement of the festival. In particular, Baek Jong-won’s The Born Korea will participate in the food zone and collaborate with local merchants to present affordable and delicious local food.
The theme of the ‘2024 Andong International Mask Dance Festival’ is ‘Cultural Dance that Makes the World One’. It is expected to be a festival where the symbolic meaning of masks and mask dance and the spirit of the festival come together, where people from all over the world can wear masks and dance, shedding the stress of everyday life and feeling free.
The moment when everyone becomes one while wearing masks and dancing can be seen at the 2024 Andong International Mask Dance Festival.
Economy Queen Reporter Kim Hong-mi / Photo Andong City
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2024-09-26 01:10:34