The press conference for an international youth street dance competition is held in Beijing on May 16.

On May 16, the press conference for an international youth street dance competition was held in Beijing. The competition, co-organized by the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC), the China Hip-Hop Union Committee (CHUC), the youth federation of Zhejiang province, and the people’s government of Qujiang District in Quzhou City, East China’s Zhejiang province, is scheduled to take place in Quzhou on June 15 and 16.

At the press conference, Chen Peng, Deputy Director of the CIYEC, noted that street dance, which allows young people to express themselves and showcase their individuality, has not only gained popularity among Chinese youth but has become a significant medium for international youth exchange. The upcoming competition will invite outstanding young street dancers from countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Thailand as well as young dancers from across China to participate, according to Chen. This event aims to enhance dialogue and cultural exchange between Chinese and foreign young people through street dance, deepen mutual understanding and foster friendship, Chen said. He added that this street dance competition is a key component of the International Youth Pop Culture Season initiated by the CIYEC.

Zhang Hongping, Deputy District Mayor of the people’s government of Qujiang District, gave an overall introduction of the district, saying that Qujiang is striving to build itself into a youth-friendly and vibrant city by implementing eight major projects that aims to facilitate industrial development, employment, entrepreneurship and residency. The district is particularly focused on creating 10 themed streets featuring street dance, e-sports and wellness, and organizing 10 major sports events and 10 cultural activities, thereby providing a comprehensive and enjoyable living environment for youth development, Zhang said.

Xia Rui, a member of the Standing Committee of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and Executive Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the CHUC, gave a briefing on the overall preparation as well as format and rules of the competition. The judging panel will include both international and domestic street dance experts, with 60 percent being international judges and 40 percent domestic, Xia said, adding that evaluations will be conducted by category, ensuring professionalism and fairness. The competition will feature five categories: adult group dance, children's group dance, adult break dance, children's break dance, and freestyle, covering various age groups and styles, he said, adding it is expected to attract over 1,000 participants from more than 10 countries and regions.

At the press conference, Han Yu, a member of the ACYF and champion of the first season of Street Dance of China, was announced as the event's ambassador.

The organizers present a certificate to Han Yu, the ambassador for the event, at the press conference on May 16.