The 9th "New Resident Dance Competition" of 2024 is open for registration from today until September 30th. The preliminary rounds will be held on November 2nd, 16th, and 24th, while the finals are scheduled for December 15th. Since its inception in 2016, this competition has attracted over 3,000 participants and has become an important platform for new residents to showcase their cultural and artistic talents. Every year, new residents from different countries interpret their unique aesthetic values through traditional costumes and dance forms.
2024 New Resident Dance Competition Poster (Photo / Sourced from the Ministry of Education's official website)
To encourage more new residents to participate, starting in 2023, the threshold for the proportion of new residents in registered teams has been adjusted to one-third. Based on participation experience over the past three years, teams are divided into Group A for experienced dancers and Group B for beginners or first-time participants. Additionally, to encourage participation from new residents in offshore islands, any team with at least half of its members registered in the offshore areas such as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Green Island, and Orchid Island can proceed directly to the finals. This initiative aims to promote participation and cultural exchange among new residents from various regions.
Participants come from various countries, including Ms. Wu from Indonesia, who has participated for five consecutive years and shared the Indonesian cultural tradition of expressing blessings through dance during festive celebrations. Other participants, such as Ms. Zhou and Ms. Chen from the Philippines, have formed friendships through the competition and passed on their homeland's culture. Moreover, some new residents participate with their children, with elementary school teachers encouraging second-generation students to affirm their self-identity through the competition.
2023 New Resident Dance Competition - Xiufeng Elementary School, Lugu Township, Nantou County (Photo / Sourced from the Ministry of Education's official website)
The Ministry of Education stated that this event not only promotes cultural exchange but also showcases the charm of diverse cultures. Participants range in age from 4 to over 80, demonstrating that dance knows no borders or age limits. Many family, parent-child, couple, or neighborhood teams participate, showcasing family and community cohesion. Past winners have been invited to perform at events such as the Ministry of Education's New Southbound Policy Education Exhibition, the Ministry of the Interior's Immigration Festival parade, and flash mob performances, promoting exotic cultures.
The Ministry of Education will continue to hold this event, using dance as a medium for new residents to showcase their native cultures and promote exchanges across different backgrounds and languages. For more information, visit the event's Facebook fan page "New Resident Dance Competition" (https://www.facebook.com/NIDC2017), or contact Ms. Jin at National Taiwan University of Arts (02-2272-2181#2577). The public is invited to join this cultural feast and enjoy the wonderful performances of new residents.
