Eighteen groups from across Taiwan won titles in their respective categories at the first Presidential Cup Street Dance competition finals yesterday at the Presidential Office Plaza.
The competition, organized by the Ministry of Sports, featured all-style line, all-style battle and breaking events, with under-15, under-18 and open divisions.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President William Lai (賴清德) said the event was meant to promote street dance, a "free language" through which dancers can "create their own universe with space and melody."
The participants ranged from children to senior citizens, Lai said.
After the competition, Lai said every performance was outstanding, "shining all the way up to the skies above Ketagalan Boulevard."
He congratulated the winners and encouraged the competitors to participate again next year.
Open auditions for the Presidential Cup Street Dance competition began in August, attracting more than 500 groups nationwide.
Participants included Olympian b-boy Sun Chen (孫振), as well as the wheelchair dance troupe Wheeldance Waves (輪舞浪潮), which ultimately won a title, the Ministry of Sports said.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
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