THE 2019 CBDF China Cup Ballroom Tour Championships Grand Final, or the CBDF Grand Final, will be held at Luohu Gymnasium in Shenzhen from Dec. 11 to 15. As the crowning event of the China Ballroom Dance Federation’s (CBDF) year-round competitions, the five-day affair is of extraordinary significance to both professional and amateur contestants, not only because the outcome will serve as a major criterion for the national ballroom dancers’ rankings, but also because it bears testimony to all the efforts they’ve made throughout the year. Co-hosted by CBDF and the Luohu District Culture, Radio, Television and Sports Bureau, this year’s event boasts an unprecedented scale and record-high number of participants, which would most definitely contribute to making it one of the most eye-catching feasts of the year. Ever since its foundation back in 2011 as a comprehensive annual dance gala that integrates competition, performance and awards, the annual CBDF Grand Final has been regarded by many as the country’s highest authority on ballroom dancing. Now after almost 10 years of trial and error, practice and endeavor, development and perfection, it has earned its name as one of the most prestigious tournaments in Asia. This year’s game makes history in surmounting last year’s number of participating groups, seeing over 19,000 dances. There are a total of 520 teams and some 8,000 contestants from 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including all of the top-12 elite players of Chinese professional groups in each category of ballroom dancing, ready to compete for the annual championship title. The organizing committee also invited 10 internationally renowned ballroom dance judges from the U.K., Russia, Italy, Croatia, Norway, Japan and another 130 well-known domestic ballroom dance authorities to form the jury team. Robin Short, honorary president of the World Dance Council, Goran Nordin, Blackpool adjudicator, Leonid Pletnev, honorary president of the International Dance Union, Mark Lunn, chairman of the U.K. Open Championships and some other big names are all included in the jury list, just to name a few. Concurrent with the opening ceremony to be held on the evening of Dec. 13, there will also be an awards ceremony for the top-12 players of the Professional Group, First-A Group and Youth Group in their perspective total points rankings as well as a red-carpet show. A total of six world-famous, top-notch ballroom dancers from Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom will present the audience with a great dance performance. What’s more, shows will also be staged to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. There’s no denying that this is going to be an exquisite feast for both the eyes and the soul. Teenagers are currently the largest demographic engaged in the sport of ballroom dancing, which will lead to the formation of a talent reservoir to facilitate the future development of ballroom dancing in China in the years to come. The annual CBDF Grand Final sets up a total of nine amateur elite groups for adolescents aged 8, 10, 12 and 14, all of whom are the winners of the previous 34th CBDF games held from March to December this year. There will be more than 2,000 tickets to the games of Dec. 11 to 12 given away for free via the Luohu Wentitong official WeChat account, the Sunshine Daily app and the radio station 89.8 FM, but only children aged 5-13 and their guardians are entitled to these free tickets. Money raised from selling tickets at the designated location, Ganglong Dance Training Center, will be donated to the Shenzhen Charity Federation to help kids with autism and a blood condition called thalassemia. The five-day event will be live broadcasted in high definition through multiple live streaming platforms such as Youku, iQiyi, PPTV, the Sunshine Daily app, YiShenzhen and sznews.com to make it possible for anyone to watch the competition anytime, anywhere. (Truman Peng) | 