An Overview of the 21st Dalian International Fashion Festival & Carnival 1
At that moment, the whole city danced together with great passion, regardless of what country you were from; at that moment, all the people sang together with enthusiasm, no matter if you were old or young; at that moment, people enjoyed the occasion together with beautiful dreams, never mentioning what you did .On the 21st birthday of the Dalian International Fashion festival, the first Carnival ignited the passion of the whole city; internationalism, modernity and public activities could be easily found in every corner of the city; people went out of their houses, with smiles, joining in the Carnival - a city event and a public holiday.
People enjoy the occasion and the city enjoys happy songs. Seldom could a festival in Dalian history be like the Fashion Festival, which arouses people s passion for the activities and improves everyone s aesthetic taste; seldom could an occasion be the same as the Carnival in which people release their feelings without being chaotic. September in autumn is the season for harvest, when Dalian gathers the glory and people gain the joy.
With the festival as a vehicle, we have perfectly combined fashion with carnival. The Fashion Festival has been mixed with carnival elements and is full of unique, colorful activities that add an enthusiastic festival atmosphere to the fashionable and romantic city of clothing, which is a new move for Dalian, building a new city with innovative concepts, forms and content. Dalian has always been known as a fashion capital and a romantic city; the successes of the previous 20 sessions have interpreted the unique charm belonging to Dalian and never stopped bringing people unusual surprises. Every day of the festival is fresh and beautiful: the Opening Ceremony beneath the shining stars, the colorful and various floats, the shows of international fashion brands and the Young Fashion Designer Contest. Dalian International Fashion Festival has been not only a cultural calling card for the city, but an occasion allowing people to experience romance and fashion. The Festival 2010 has made citizens performers on the stage with their talents. In particular, I Want to Be a Model a citizens fashion model show made the dream of young people who longed to step a T-style stage come true. Though they are amateurs and not skillful, their participation itself is a success, a pride and confidence, since the ordinary people s creativity is enough to highlight the city. The city is like a multi-colored palette with so many meanings: North Pearl, colorful Dalian, splendid T-stage show, shining talent show and dazzling carnival parade.
With the festival as a vehicle, Dalian people have fully shown their talents, making themselves the protagonists of the event. As a main part of the first Carnival, the activities I Want have got the people excited: a citizens fashion model show I Want to Be a Model , a citizens talent show I Want to Be on TV , a citizens show on wedding gowns I Want to Be a Bride , a citizens chorus performance I Want to Sing Loud and a citizens dancing performance I Want to Dance , all of which have drawn a great deal of people to participate. People from neighborhoods, communities, schools, enterprises and city organs could not help but actively take part in these activities. As the activities were held at Olympic Square, Naval Square, Labor Park, Pearl Square and the square of the Shahekou Public Administration Service Center, the whole city shared the happiness and enjoyed the festival. As a traditional activity for the festival, the Carnival Parade is absolutely indispensable, which has taken place one after another in Xinghai Square, the road between Olympic Square and Zhongshan Square, Jinzhou New Area and Puwan New Area. Dazzling floats, vibrant performances, and a carnival atmosphere moved people so much. Various activities in each sub-site in boroughs and zones also pleased people and appealed to them greatly. The interaction of the activities enhanced people s sense of belonging, sense of identity and sense of honor for the city in which they live, as well as their happiness index.
With the festival as a vehicle, Dalian has represented to the world the city s image of romance, fashion, internationalism and modernity, earning her a reputation and influence inside and outside China. A series of titles for Dalian-- a National Civilized City, the Best Tourist City and one of the China's Top Ten Most Livable Cities-have well introduced her to the world. The fashion festival, one of the most important calling cards of Dalian, has attracted more attention, with more and more famous fashion brands and models, as well as tourists flocking from both home and abroad. A calligrapher, who is a Dalian citizen living overseas in Japan, brought 30 Japanese calligraphic amateurs to Dalian for the excitement of the event. Hearing mention of Dalian, what many foreign tourists know is the festival, which has already become the symbol of the city with its vitality. For a city, no matter how high the buildings in it are, how many wide roads she has and how fast her GDP grows, the figures can leave nothing but a limited memory; for a city, the most important factor for long-lasting attention from the people is none other than its humanity. Dalian International Fashion Festival has increasingly earned her reputation and recognition with the economic and cultural brand power.
The moment the Carnival raised its curtain and people joined in the parade with beaming smiles, we believed that Dalian is a vibrant city, a joyful city and a city full of happiness; the moment the citizens stepped onto the stage, singing and dancing with drums and gongs, we realized that Dalian is an open city, a harmonious city and a modern city. Visiting major squares in downtown Dalian and its boroughs, you will easily find foreign tourists here and there in the crowd, busy snapping pictures; every citizen can be a good propagandist, describing their happy and healthy life with cheerful performances and expressing their cultural tastes with their civilized demeanor.
