Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation, Inc. Executive Director and Trustee Marielle Benitez Javellana is one of the jurors in the International Dance Competition of the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2024, the biggest dance festival in Korea.

The International Dance Competition is one of the main competitions in the Cheonan World Dance Festivals 2024. The competition runs from September 25-29, 2024 with more than 30 dance groups from all over the world participating. Bayanihan, the Philippines’ National Folk Dance Company, was the Grand Prize at the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2022. It also garnered the top prize in the World Dance Festival in 2011.

While in Cheonan Javellana will attend the Federation of International Dance Festivals (FIDAF) Congress and FIDAF Executive Committee Meeting as the Vice Chair for Asia and the National Representative for the Philippines. It was in 2022 when she was elected Philippine National Representative and co-Vice Chairman for Asia.

Javellana will likewise participate an academic symposium titled “The Contemporary Significance and Future Value of Glocal Dance Festivals” under the auspices of The Society for Dance Documentation & History as discussant.  In its letter of invitation, The Society for Dance Documentation & History through President, Dr. Kim Sunjung stated the symposium aims to capture the evolving landscape of glocal dance festivals. Its key objectives include analyzing trends in glocal dance festivals, discussing strategies for enhancing urban competitiveness through global dance events, and preserving the dynamic interaction of analog and digital sensibilities in dance festival culture.