Paris, June 16 (CNA) Two dance groups from Taiwan were among the top 10 finalists from around the world set to battle it out Sunday at the Paris Theatre de Ville for a 15,000 euro (US$18,957) top prize.

Chang Chien-hao's entry "The Next Three" and Wu Chien-ying's "Dancing in Badminton" were chosen from among 300 entries from 41 countries to enter the final round of competition at Danse Elargie, a competition in its second year that invites dancers of all ages and disciplines for free expression on stage.

The only rules were a maximum 10 minutes in length for each piece and at least three performers per group.

Chang, 27, who graduated in dance at Taipei National University of the Arts, went on to establish the Chang Dance Theater in 2011. His submission at the competition was a trio performed with his younger brothers Chang Chien-chih and Chang Chien-kuei.

Wu, 29, is based in Paris after studying at Taiwan's National University of Arts and graduating from Beaux-Arts, Paris. His piece at the Danse Elargie is based on the game of badminton, with two pairs -- two men and two women -- playing the game on stage with dance moves.

The post-competition stage is perhaps as equally important as the competition itself, as six projects from last year were invited to reside at the Musee de la Danse in the French city of Rennes, and for a month-long season of productions at the Theatre de la Ville-les Abbesses, a chance for young talent.

Meanwhile, in Enghien-les-Bains, a northern suburb of Paris, an interactive arts festival ended that same day in which Taiwan's Soma Mapping II, an interactive installation piece created by Zhan Jia-hua, a student at Taiwan's National University of Arts, was among one of the best items selected for display.

The piece captures and projects Zhan's movements onto a screen, which are then blended into an interactive background.

The piece was displayed June 9-16 at the festival.

(By Luo Yuan-shao and Ann Chen)
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