Dutch dance companies including Armada & Q Dance are also involved with the event this April in Chengdu.
As the Asian dance music market heats up, a flurry of Dutch dance companires are getting in the mix via China's inaugural C.E.A. Festival.
Happeining April 18-19 at Joy Park in Chengdu, C.E.A. — short for Charming Eastern Awakening — will be produced by Chinese promoters Brotherhood Music, in association with the Amsterdam Dance Event, Creative Holland and Dutch Music Export. Dutch heavies Martin Garrix and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike will headline the show, with more than 60 other acts including Yellow Claw, Vicetone and Sam Feldt rounding out the bill. See the complete round one lineup poster below.
Stage production for Charming Eastern Awakening will be handled by Backbone International and T-Minus Design, co-creators on stage designs for festivals including Tomorrowland and Mysteryland. Venerable Dutch dance outfits Armada Music and Q-Dance will both host stage takeovers.
Paul Neuteboom, the Managing Director of both Brotherhood and C.E.A., has an eight year history throwing festivals in China and was part of the team that launched Creamfields China in 2017.
"Ever since I was introduced to just how rich the Chinese culture and heritage is, over 11 years ago, I've always dreamed of creating a music festival that managed to combine all that wealth with the production prowess of events in the West that I grew up with," Neuteboom tells Billboard Dance. "I'm very happy to announce C.E.A. Festival, as this will follow a unique new concept that aims to unite the very best of both worlds."
"Together with our strong international and domestic partners, we will put together an exclusive experience specifically tailored to the Asian audience," Neuteboom continues. "It will be an exciting new direction for music festivals in China and beyond and aims to shape the global future for audience entertainment and show spectacles."
The festival will be preceded by the CEMC international music conferfence, organized by the producers of House Of China, Amsterdam Dance Event and Creative Holland & Dutch Music Export.