Maiden event set to boost town’s tourism

SIBU: The inaugural Borneo International Street Dance and Kpop Competition 2024 is set to boost local tourism, said Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.

Chieng said that the first-ever Borneo International Street Dance and Kpop Competition 2024 will become a new tourism attraction for the town.

The event, organised by the Bukit Assek Branch Saberkas in collaboration with the Bukit Assek Service Centre, has gained the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts.

“The event is also backed by University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), HyperYoung, The Stage, and the Sibu Creative Arts Club, along with several sponsors,” he said in a press conference at his service centre here today.

He said that the competition will help develop a Kpop dance culture within Sibu’s tourism offerings, thereby attracting more visitors to the town.

“The event is scheduled to run from October 5 to 6 at the Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud Chancellor’s Hall at UTS,” he added

Preceding the competition, a world-class dance workshop will take place on October 4 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the same venue and will be led by internationally renowned dance instructors, aiming to inspire and improve the skills of dance enthusiasts through a variety of styles.

“This event seeks to celebrate and promote street dance and Kpop culture, bringing together top dance talents from around the globe.

“It is free and open to the public, offering not just a competition but a dynamic cultural exchange. Dancers from diverse backgrounds will showcase their talents, sharing their personal journeys and stories through the universal language of dance,” he added.

The competition will be judged by experts from Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, ensuring the event meets international standards.

The total prize pool of RM35,000 is the largest ever offered for a dance competition in Sarawak, with Chieng highlighting the milestone it represents for the local dance scene.

Chieng stressed that street dance and Kpop represent more than just art forms, serving as mediums to connect cultures, languages, and geographical divides.

For more details on the event, the public can visit the social media pages of ‘Blast Your Stage’ on Facebook and Instagram.