Hyderabad: The first edition of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) International Television Dance Festival, showcasing traditional and contemporary dance performances by artistes from over 10 counties across the Asia-Pacific region, is scheduled to be held here on Sunday. Union Information & Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu would inaugurate the festival.

The event is also likely to be attended by chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, state Tourism and Culture Minister Azmeera Chandulal, Prasar Bharati Chairman A Surya Prakash and other senior officials of I&B Ministry, Prasar Bharati and Telangana government.

The Prasar Bharati, India's public service broadcaster, is hosting the first edition of this mega event. The ABU was established in 1964 as a non-profit, non-government, professional association to assist the development of broadcasting in the region.

Two declared finalists from each country, one in ‘contemporary’ dance form and the other in ‘traditional’ dance form, will participate in the grand finale of the festival. All participating dance groups are in the age group of 18 to 25 years

The dance festival is conceptualized so as to bring the cultural diversities from across the world into limelight, by breaking cultural barriers. It would unveil the sacred occasions when people dance, and the joys that varied communities across the Asia Pacific region feel, as they dance, an official release said here.

The countries which have so far confirmed their participation in the event include Maldives, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji and Indonesia, it said.

Two declared finalists from each country, one in 'contemporary' dance form and the other in 'traditional' dance form, will participate in the grand finale of the festival. All participating dance groups are in the age group of 18 to 25 years, it said.

The festival aims at creating a 'bridge' between young people from different parts of the world, through dance as an international language, it added.