World-class dancesport festival concludes in Wuxi

The 2024 WDSF Asian Dancesport Festival, the world's largest dancesport event, concluded on July 21 in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province.

Over the course of five days, more than 4,000 athletes from 50 countries and regions competed in seven Latin and Standard dance events. Their performances, ranging from graceful and tender to passionate and intense, provided a sensory feast for the audience.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 WDSF Asian Dancesport Festival is held on July 19 in Wuxi. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A highlight of the festival was the WDSF Grand Slam Latin on the final day, where Wuxi native Du Yujun and her partner Yan Bangbang won the championship after seven rigorous rounds. This victory marked the first gold medal for Asian dancers in this event.

Yan attributed their success to the integration of tai chi elements into their choreography, emphasizing how the global dance community's growing interest in Chinese culture has become an advantage for Chinese dancers.

Du Yujun and her partner Yan Bangbang perform at the WDSF Grand Slam Latin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The festival first debuted in Wuxi last July, co-organized by the World DanceSport Federation, Dancesport Asia, the Chinese DanceSport Federation, and the Wuxi government. It aims to establish Wuxi as the third global hub for dance sport, alongside Blackpool, United Kingdom and Stuttgart, Germany, fostering the global and sustainable development of the sport.

To ensure smooth organization, a digital service platform has been developed for the event. Participants can use the platform for registration, payment, hotel and transportation bookings, makeup appointments, and ticket purchases.

Yin Guochen, president of Dancesport Asia and the Chinese Dancesport Federation, said that three major events for next year's festival have already been successfully bid on. The upcoming events will feature more Asian elements, promising an even more unique and diverse festival experience.