Held June 15-16 at Byeolbitnaericheon Area
Mnet's 'Street Woman Fighter' and 'Street Man Fighter' plus top international street dancers featured
Famous street flea market and family-friendly programs packed with fun activities
The “City of Festivals,” Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee), will hold the third season of “Groove in Gwanak” over two days on June 15 and 16 around the Starlight Naerincheon area in Sillim-dong.
Now in its third year, “Groove in Gwanak” attracted over 50,000 domestic and international dancers and spectators last year, establishing itself as the summer flagship festival of Gwanak-gu’s year-round festival brand, the “Gwanak Festival.”
Hosted by Gwanak-gu and organized by the Gwanak Cultural Foundation, this event centers on street dance and street culture, featuring youth and young adult dancers.
World-class dancers who have won prestigious international battle competitions from countries such as France, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan, as well as famous judges including participants from Mnet’s Street Man Fighter (Smanpa) and Street Woman Fighter (Swoopa), will join “Groove in Gwanak” to discover emerging dancers who will lead the street dance scene.
Attendees can experience all genres of street dance here, including Hip-hop, Popping, Locking, Waacking, Breaking, House, and Krump.
The festival features ▲a pre-event “Dance Busking” program ▲battle (competition) programs (total prize money of 14 million KRW, with overseas training opportunities for winners) ▲a famous street brand flea market and various ongoing programs ▲DJ shows and a congratulatory performance by the Mnet “Swoopa” Mane Queen.
First, on June 7 from 6 PM, the district will present the pre-event “Dance Busking” at the plaza in front of the Gwanak-gu Office. This aims to introduce “Groove in Gwanak” to residents and raise the festival’s atmosphere ahead of the main event.
The battle (competition) programs consist of the “Freestyle 1on1 Battle,” a one-on-one battle open to street dancers of all genres, and the “Teenager 2on2 Battle,” a two-on-two battle for youth dancers.
Notably, the winner of the main battle program, “Dance Trip,” will receive not only prize money but also an opportunity for overseas training. In this way, the district is committed to supporting young artists’ overseas advancement and promoting the region beyond simply hosting a festival.
The ongoing program “Street Culture” is operated with various themes centered on street culture. At the “Famous Street Brand Flea Market,” buyers on the event day can receive discounts of up to 50%.
Additionally, diverse programs that the whole family can enjoy are prepared, including “Graffiti,” “Beat Making,” “OOTD (Outfit of the Day) Photography,” and “Special Hairstyling Experience,” allowing participants to experience street culture firsthand.
During the festival, the main stage will host DJ shows, beatbox performances, and a congratulatory stage by the Mnet “Swoopa” Mane Queen, further heating up the festival atmosphere.
For detailed information about participation applications, viewing methods, and more regarding the 2024 “Groove in Gwanak,” please contact the Festival Planning Team at the Gwanak Cultural Foundation.
Meanwhile, at the Gwancheon-ro cultural platform S1472, the street fashion exhibition “GIG EXHIBITION” will be on display from June 15 to June 30.
This exhibition was planned, directed, and spatially designed by active street dancers themselves, capturing vibrant scenes in the display. It features experience zones such as a selfie zone, photo zone, short-form zone, and graffiti zone, allowing visitors to fully enjoy and engage with street fashion within the exhibition space.
Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “I hope this festival becomes a celebration for everyone, not only young artists but also all residents of Gwanak-gu to enjoy together,” adding, “I encourage residents to visit the festival in large numbers to support the dreams of young artists and have a joyful time.”
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