18 groups win 1st Presidential Cup Street Dance competition

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Eighteen groups from across Taiwan won titles in their respective categories at the first Presidential Cup Street Dance competition finals on Sunday 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.

The winners are EX-KIDS, HRC BEAST KIDS, nonstop, DSDJ Family (動動手動動腳), VOSSI and Breaking bad crew in the all-style line event, Snappy Two, Beware of Children A (當心兒童A), YA CK, Purify the Mind, Championhood and IP LOCKERS in the all-style battle event, and GUGU GAGA, Central Demon Slayers (山丘鬼殺隊), The Hans, Hiraeth Bboy, TC NEW BLOOD and CITY4 INSTRUMENT in the breaking event.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Lai Ching-te (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."

Lai noted that the participants ranged from children to senior citizens.

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, including Olympian B-Boy Sun Chen (孫振), as well as the wheelchair dance troupe "Wheeldance Waves" (輪舞浪潮), which advanced to the finals, according to the Ministry of Sports.