The 17th Busan International Performing Arts Festival (BIPAF) was held in September under the slogan, ”Play, breaking the boundary.” Busan, known for its sea in the city, is second to Seoul when it comes to being a frequented spot by foreign tourists, making it a so-called international city of Korea. As such, the BIPAF has been loved by not only local artists but also those from abroad.
The BIPAF held from September 25 to 27 garnered attention in two ways. First, the event aired live on the official website, YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Vimeo page. Second, it contributed to regional development through the “Cheer Up, Busan!” challenge that supports local art organizations who are financially struggling.
The non–face-to-face performances were shown with subtitles, receiving a positive response from foreigners and people with disabilities, thanks to its accessibility. During the festival, 13 performances were presented: one invitational performance, two congratulatory performances, six street performances for a contest, and four performances for the “Cheer Up, Busan!” challenge.

Dynamic Street, where Audiences’ Reactions Turn into Passion

The Opening Ceremony consisted of a celebratory performance, opening remarks, the “Cheer Up, Busan!” challenge, and the Dynamic Street Showcase. Dynamic Street, which also caught the attention of audiences last year, is a contest of different genres in one place for street performances, including plays, mime performances, dancing and physical theater.
In the livestreamed street performance program, 6 teams were selected for the finals among 48 local and 19 international teams. This year’s grand prize went to The Spirit of The Fire by Art of Magic, a story of healing the heartbroken using fire. Meanwhile, the first prize was given to MYSTERIOUS by the Goonies Company, showcasing a unique combination of gugak (traditional Korean music) with gayageum (twelve-stringed zither) and haegeum (two-stringed fiddle), dynamic movements, and rap.

Cheer Up, Busan!: Feel the Warmth through the Internet

Another online event is the regional win-win challenge "Cheer Up, Busan!". The event was organized to support local art groups who are struggling because of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to showcase various performances for the enjoyment of Busan’s citizens.
Four performances were presented: Pun and Fun Show, a street performance with juggling, balloons, and magic; Namaste Show! an Indian-inspired storytelling performance by magician Park Jun-young; Jugglman Show, a comic circus with juggling and mime performances; and Chosun’s First Circus BunamsaDang, a reproduction of the imaginary first circus of Busan in the Joseon Dynasty, telling the story of Busan through a namsadang (itinerant troupe) performance.

The Seagull of the Busan Metropolitan Theatre Company on the Round Stage

From the 25th and 27th at 7:30 p.m., the invitational performance The Seagull by Busan Metropolitan Theatre Company was broadcasted via Vimeo. The original work of the same name by Anton Chekhov is a classic play dramatizing the conflicts between a son, a playwright; an actress mother; the mother’s lover, who is a famous writer; and the son’s loving girlfriend. This year, the show was raised to reality on a round stage for audiences’ active participation, earning positive reviews.

Unique and Exciting Celebratory Stages

Festivals aren’t complete without celebratory performances. One such work is The Painting by Animation Crew, who made their name as the world’s best popping dance team when they appeared in Korea’s Got Talent 2 in 2012, France’s The Best, and America’s Got Talent 10 in 2015. In this performance, the artists became living art to meet the audience. Meanwhile, “Fantastic Acrobatic” by Ronald Acrobatic Show, a comic circus group from the Philippines, is different from typical circus shows, sharing laughter with audiences of all ages.

Schedule : September 25 (Fri)

Schedule : September 26 (Sat)

Schedule : September 27 (Sun)