Madrid to host European qualification for K-pop dance fest

PARIS, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- Madrid will host the European qualification for an upcoming Korean pop music (K-pop) dance festival, the Korean cultural center in Spain said Sunday, amid the rising popularity of K-pop across Europe. According to the cultural center, 19 teams of dancers will enter the continental competition in Madrid on Monday to make the final of the 2011 K-pop Cover Dance Festival. Hosted by the 2010-2012 Visit Korea Committee to promote Korean music, the festival is open to international fans to cover dance routines of their favorite K-pop artists. Online preliminaries were held between June and August, with video entries from South Korea, Japan, China, Europe and the Americas. The final is set for Oct. 3 in Gyeongju, about 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. For the European qualification, the Korean boy band Beast will serve as judges. The six-man dance group will have a joint concert with the Spain Millennium Choir in Madrid on Tuesday.