The 2025 Taichung International Dance Carnival marks its 10th anniversary and will be held for the first time in Qingshui, Taichung. This year’s event features a unique collaboration with the internationally renowned IP, The Smurfs! The carnival is scheduled to take place from September 27 to 28. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, attending today’s (4th) promotional press conference, highlighted three major features of this year’s event: in addition to relocating to Qingshui and gathering 19 dance teams from 7 countries to participate, Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua has generously lent her treasured collection of Smurfs memorabilia for a special exhibition hosted by the city government. This exhibition complements the Dance Carnival, inviting people nationwide not only to join the festivities but also to visit the exhibition and experience the playful charm and cultural appeal brought by the Smurfs.
Mayor Lu noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Taichung International Dance Carnival, which is being celebrated with grandeur and creativity. The event features several highlights: first, it is being held for the first time in the coastal Qingshui District; second, it is collaborating with the internationally renowned IP, The Smurfs, aiming to enhance the visibility of the carnival; third, for this IP collaboration, a special exhibition is made possible through the memorabilia lent by the gracious Magistrate Hsu, showcasing over 400 carefully selected Smurf figurines from her collection of more than 3,000 pieces accumulated over more than 30 years! The exhibition is on display now through August 29 on the first floor of the Taichung City Hall Wenxin Building, where the public can see a variety of Smurfs with expressive and diverse appearances.
This year, a total of 19 professional performance teams from seven countries, both domestic and international, will perform in Qingshui. Additionally, the event welcomes public participation in the “Community Dance Fun Competition,” open to all ages and dance styles. Teams of at least 10 members are invited to register and showcase their dance moves freely and legally on the streets, competing for a total prize pool of NT$100,000. From September 27 to 28, people nationwide are warmly invited to join the carnival in Taichung. Besides the special exhibition held at the Taichung City Hall Wenxin Building, the Smurfs will also appear at administrative offices and outdoor attractions across Taichung’s 29 districts in the future, aiming to bring the charm of art and creativity to the public in a joyful atmosphere.
Magistrate Hsu expressed her sincere gratitude to Mayor Lu and the Taichung City Government for the invitation, and expressed hope that Nantou County can continue to learn from Taichung’s experience. Successfully organizing the Dance Carnival for ten consecutive years is a remarkable achievement, requiring not only effective resource integration but also strong local recognition and long-term experience accumulation. The Nantou County Government aims to strengthen cooperation with Taichung City in tourism development and event execution. For example, this year, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, and Miaoli joined forces to conduct promotional activities in Japan and Hong Kong. Furthermore, Nantou has taken on the organization of this year’s National Day celebrations, with the gala held in Taichung on October 9 and the fireworks display scheduled for October 10 in Nantou, fully demonstrating the success of regional collaborative marketing efforts in central Taiwan.
Magistrate Hsu also mentioned that this year’s Dance Carnival collaboration with The Smurfs holds special significance for her as a collector. Out of her love for the Smurfs, she recalled receiving three Smurf figurines adorned with the Belgian national flag colors from the Belgian ambassador as a diplomatic gift when the mayor invited the ambassador to participate in an event, which deeply moved her. Looking ahead, she hopes that through the charm of The Smurfs, more people will come to appreciate this classic cartoon character that has accompanied many through their growth. She also hopes that the carnival will strengthen cultural marketing for the city and stimulate local economic development.
Director Chen Mei-hsiu of the Tourism and Travel Bureau said that today’s press conference featured a vibrant opening dance performance by students from the Performing Arts Department of Youth Senior High School, who will represent Taiwan at the Manaka Festival in Japan. This performance symbolizes the vitality and innovative spirit of the Dance Carnival. Additionally, Fenmo Art, which won last year’s Community Dance Fun Competition, was recommended by the city government to perform at the Powerful Daegu Festival in Daegu, South Korea. This year, not only has the prize money for the Community Dance Fun Competition been increased, but the organizers of the Powerful Daegu Festival have also been invited to send dance troupes to Taichung to participate in Taiwan’s largest dance carnival. This initiative aims to establish the Taichung International Dance Carnival as a premier platform for domestic and international dance troupe exchange and as a celebrated international dance festival city.
The Tourism and Travel Bureau announced that registration for the Community Dance Fun Competition is now open. Participants of all ages and dance styles are welcome to form teams of at least 10 members and register as long as they have music and costumes prepared. In addition, the event will feature dance workshops led by professional domestic and international dance groups, offering participants the opportunity to experience the unique charm of expert dance styles firsthand. For more details, please visit the official event webpage of the 2025 Taichung International Dance Carnival (https://travel.taichung.gov.tw/zh-tw/event/activitydetail/9698).
Today’s event was attended by a distinguished gathering of guests, including Mayor Lu, Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua, City Councilor Liu Shih-chou, Director Chen Mei-hsiu of the Tourism and Travel Bureau, Director Chen Da-tian of the Construction Bureau, Director Chang Feng-yuan of the Economic Development Bureau, Director Wu Shih-wei of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Chairman Lin Ding-chao of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, Director of the Personnel Department Chen Yue-chun, Director Lin Gu-long of the Digital Development Bureau, Deputy Director Shih Chun-fu of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Deputy Director You Meng-xian of the Finance Bureau, Secretary-General Huang Yu-shan of the Taichung City Industrial Development and Investment Promotion Committee, and Deputy Chairman Ji Wen-lai of Tzu Yun Yen Temple. Legislators Liao Wei-hsiang and Huang Jen, as well as City Councilors Huang Hsin-hui, Chiu Ai-shan, Chen Wen-cheng, Chen Cheng-hsian, Chen Ching-lung, Yang Ta-hung, and Lin Pei-han, sent representatives to attend. Additionally, representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Administration’s Tri-mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation Agency’s Taichung Branch, district offices, local village chiefs from Qingshui District, and tourism association delegates were also present to jointly celebrate the occasion.