COVID-19 situation was getting better after KBW in November 2022. Finally, it was possible to travel abroad.
Our last exchange was held in Taipei in January 2020 and I haven't seen my friends for nearly three years since then. The memory of that time was that even though we all wore masks and danced because of anxiety due to COVID-19, Taiwanese dancers welcomed us warmly and were grateful and it became a trip without regret. Since the COVID-19 restriction was almost over. It was time to meet friends again.
I wanted to bring in the Japanese band AGSQ for the Balboa event that I had dreamed of for a long time. I talked to [MG Chris Jung](https://www.facebook.com/mingun.jung.3?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) on the phone. MG also said he really missed his bandmates. We had same goal. It is to meet our friends again!!
I also talked to [Miyabi Hong](https://www.facebook.com/hong.q.e?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) and decided to hold the first full-live Weekend Balboa event in Asia in April when cherry blossoms bloom. I wanted to relieve the resentment of Balboa dancers who had nowhere to go during the CSI season in April.
It was held suddenly, but I was grateful that many international dancers attended. In particular, I was grateful that many Chinese dancers took a plane that was two to three times more expensive than the current one after the lockdown was lifted.
And I was very grateful to [Sam Chan](https://www.facebook.com/lindysam?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) and [Jacob Wigger](https://www.facebook.com/jacob.wigger?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) for coming from afar for ABX. I was also grateful for the support of Mirae, who worked hard as a teaching partner while feeling sick, and [Soochan Lee](https://www.facebook.com/jegal9311?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) and [Young Kang](https://www.facebook.com/bbangnim?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) , Korea's top swing dancers.
Without them, classes and competitions would not have been successful.
The competition was a dilemma. If you put a competition in a social event, social time is reduced.
I wanted to show you the competition without reducing social time at the event.
I increased the number of classes on Friday and reduced the number of classes on Sunday as much as possible. The competition time was longer than expected, and there were some parts that were not smooth due to lack of experience.
AGSQ+RYOHEI+EASEN showed great performance. They rehearsed hard when the dancers took the class. This is not the real sound that only stays and listens to in the ear, but the performance that comes out of the instrument in the field and touches the heart.
In addition, Dance& friends,Big Apple owner, staff members, Korean instructors, judges, especially [Naoko Terada](https://www.facebook.com/naoko.terada.7?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) and [Naru Oky](https://www.facebook.com/naru.oky?__cft__[0]=AZWMmZwufUX-B5pZnYl9dSQapxo3lAeYtlMK8qQl2WrIwp1P00MawJSIskUgEEG0BtOvSJQBqaVk-lbFc9iV-TNoINtph8zVnGUFfL5kplgf8P17IAx1OR3Rjlos3Bl_NxA7ruZ7nUuYFHdf6vfvq01H&__tn__=-]K-R) San who barely came from Japan! Organizers, DJs. Those who sponsored us. There are so many grateful people that it's hard to list them all. About 320 people participated in ABX and set a record for the largest number of classes in Big Apple's history. (88 people)
After ABX in April, I went on a business trip to China, then to Balboa Festival Shanghai in June, then to Kawasaki Balboa Meeting vol.1 in Japan in July, then to China every week in September, and finally to Taiwan in September. (I have to go on a business trip to China again next week.) My EXCHANGE this year is coming to an end. And now I'm looking to prepare for ABX2024. The target is 350 people in 2024. As the number of people increases, we need to eat, drink, talk, dance, social time, and the place should increase Therefore, I am planning to hold it at new Big Apple as a 5-day event. An instrument called vibraphone, which is a perfect match for Balboa, was added, and two couples of overseas instructors were confirmed. Today, ABX2024 will be officially announced for the first time to Taiwanese dancers who made ASIA BALBOA EXCHANGE possible.
2022년 11월 KBW끝나고 코로나 상황이 나아지고 있었다. 드디어 겨우 해외 여행도 가능해졌다.
당시 우리의 마지막 exchange 는 타이페이에서 2020년 1월에 열었고 그후 3년 가까이 친구들을 볼 수 없었다. 그때의 기억은 코로나로 인해 불안감에 비록 모두 마스크를 쓰고 춤을 췄지만 대만 댄서들은 우리를 따뜻하게 반겨줬고 고마웠고 후회없는 여행이 되었다. 이제 코로나가 끝나갔다. 다시 친구들을 만나야할 시간이었다.
예전부터 꿈꿔왔었던 발보아 행사를 위해 일본 밴드 AGSQ를 불러오고 싶었다. 엠지랑 통화를 했다. 엠지도 밴드친구들이 보고 싶다고 했다. 우리는 뜻은 같았다. 보고 싶은 친구들을 만나는 것이다.
미야비와도 얘기했고 벚꽃이 피는 4월 한국에서 처음으로 풀라이브 위켄 발보아 이벤트를 열기로 했다. 4월 CSI시즌만 되면 갈 곳이 없던 발보아댄서들의 한을 풀어주고 싶었다.