At 10:00 AM on December 27, aboard the Joyful Cruises ship bound for Osaka, Japan, the finals of the 2017 Norwegian Joy Cruise Dance Competition were grandly held in the Joy Theatre on Deck 7 of the ship. The event was hosted by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., co-organized by Travel + Leisure China magazine and Shanghai Morning Post Community Edition, and honored to have Norwegian Joy’s Entertainment Director Keith, Photography Manager Kristaps, and Finance Director Robert serve as judges.
The finals featured three dance teams: “Dream Fulfillment Dance Troupe,” “Snow Lotus Dance Troupe,” and “Hongnan Dance Troupe.” Having advanced through community auditions and preliminary rounds, they finally reached the finals stage. All three teams come from Shanghai communities and were formed spontaneously by residents passionate about square dancing. Although their average age is 60, their outstanding performances and passionate expressions earned warm applause from both the judges and the audience.
At 10:30 AM, the competition officially began. First to perform was the “Dream Fulfillment Dance Troupe” with their dance titled “Dreaming Youth.” Through this performance, they sought to rediscover their youth, using their movements to portray their younger years and perfectly expressing their youthful dreams. Next up was the “Hongnan Dance Troupe,” who presented “Dashing Female Soldiers.” Everyone has a military dream, and their youth was an era when they preferred military attire over makeup. Today, they remain spirited, performing with vigor and poise, truly embodying the essence of “youthful bloom.” Finally, the “Snow Lotus Dance Troupe” took the stage. During the era of rural relocations, many members of this troupe went to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to support national development, forming an enduring bond with Xinjiang. They performed the traditional Xinjiang dance “Happy Days,” telling stories of their time in Xinjiang and filled with memories from those years.
After intense deliberation and strict scoring by the judges, the “Dream Fulfillment Dance Troupe” claimed the championship with their outstanding performance. The “Hongnan Dance Troupe” and “Snow Lotus Dance Troupe” won second and third place, respectively. Thus, the first Norwegian Joy Cruise Dance Competition came to a successful conclusion.
Cruise tourism has become a popular travel option among middle-aged and elderly individuals in recent years and has also emerged as an important medium for cultural and tourism promotion. Therefore, the first Norwegian Joy Cruise Dance Competition, jointly planned by Norwegian Cruise Line and Travel + Leisure China magazine, aims to boost the development of cruise culture, respond to national calls for promoting fitness and healthy living. While current cruise ships offer comprehensive facilities that meet the needs of older adults, there is still a lack of theme-based activities specifically tailored to them. Hosting a series of theme activities suitable for older passengers to enhance their engagement and experience onboard is the original intention and goal of this event by Norwegian Cruise Line. We look forward to Norwegian Cruise Line introducing more innovative activities for the older adult market and creating new glories for the Shanghai home port.