PROJECT PARTNERS
ART LINK FOUNDATION / DERIDA DANCE CENTER (BG)
Derida Dance Center, Bulgaria's first contemporary dance hub, was established in 2010 by Atanas Maev and Jivko Jelyazkov under the Art Link Foundation. It fosters the local dance scene by nurturing talent and providing much needed resources. The center offers productions, training, international partnerships, residencies, and curatorial activities. Derida Stage, its venue, hosts diverse cultural events, including performances, exhibitions, and debates. Affiliated with Aerowaves and EDN, it expands its impact across Europe.
STUDENTS’ CULTURAL CENTER NOVI SAD (RS)
Founded in 1993, Students’ Cultural Center Novi Sad enriches the city's cultural scene, catering to diverse audiences. It promotes literary, theatrical, musical, and artistic endeavors, emphasizing youth development and talent promotion. Signature events include Rhythm of Europe, To.Be.Punk.Festival, Novi Sad Comic Books Weekend, and Tanz Platz Contemporary Dance Festival. SCCNS collaborates with various theaters, hosts art exhibitions, literature discussions, and music concerts, showcasing emerging and established talents. Recognized for its contributions, SCCNS received the October Award of the City of Novi Sad in 2011.
ALBANIA DANCE MEETING (AL)
Albania Dance Meeting, founded in 1998, initially focused on contemporary art and later specialized in contemporary dance. Its main activity, the Albania Dance Meeting-Festival, started in 2006. Their goals include promoting contemporary art, fostering cultural exchange, revitalizing heritage sites, and creating an inclusive artistic environment. The festival features performances from the region and beyond, along with workshops and educational programs. Through dance, the organization addresses societal issues and celebrates Albania's rich dance heritage, aiding in overcoming historical challenges.
THE CONTEMPORARY DANCE ASSOCIATION SLOVENIA (SI)
Founded in 1994, the Contemporary Dance Association Slovenia (CDAS) unites professionals in contemporary dance, fostering communication and raising awareness in Slovenia. It is a voluntary association of dancers, choreographers, pedagogues, theoreticians, and critics, aiming to establish a space for communication and develop the contemporary dance scene. CDAS awards the Ksenija Hribar professional awards and organizes events to promote contemporary dance, especially on International Dance Day. Collaborating internationally, it receives funding from the European Commission, the Ministry of Culture, and the Municipality of Ljubljana, among others, to support its activities.
CROATIAN CULTURAL CENTER RIJEKA – HKD (HR)
The Croatian Cultural Center (HKD) in Rijeka, founded in 2018, serves as a hub for performing and visual arts. It coordinates cultural programs and fosters community engagement through diverse projects. Since 2020, HKD has been the driving force behind the Port of Dance contemporary dance festival. The festival showcases contemporary international and local dance productions, with a segment dedicated to performances translated into VR technology.
CROATIAN INSTITUTE FOR MOVEMENT AND DANCE – HIPP (HR)
The Croatian Institute for Movement and Dance (HIPP) has shaped contemporary dance in Croatia since 1990. Founded by Mirna Zagar, HIPP operates both locally and internationally, raising awareness of Croatian dance. It hosts the Dance Week Festival, Croatia’s main contemporary dance event. HIPP established the Zagreb Dance Centre in 2006, operating it until 2017. Recognized with the Charter of the Republic of Croatia (2010) and the EFFE Label (2017), HIPP is also a member of the European Dance Development Network (EDN).
DAN.C.CE UNITIVA (GR)
DAN.C.CE Unitiva, a non-profit launched in 2008, uplifts contemporary choreography in Greece by both local and international emerging artists. It hosts the ARC for Dance Festival, showcasing diverse works and fostering connections within the dance community, and Moving Colors Fest, which aims to familiarize young audiences with contemporary dance. DAN.C.CE recently organized the 10th Anniversary of Spring Forward Festival in Elefsina, featuring 25 choreographic works. It enriches Greece's dance landscape through its initiatives, and promotes European contemporary dance as a member of Aerowaves.
EN–KNAP PRODUCTIONS (SI)
En–Knap Productions, led by choreographer Iztok Kovač, established in 1994, has introduced its trademark aesthetics across Europe. Since 2009, it oversees Španski Borci Cultural Centre in Ljubljana, housing the first professional ensemble for contemporary dance in Slovenia, En–Knap Group. Transitioning to an ensemble-based repertoire, the center serves as a hub for diverse cultural engagement. The company comprehensively engages with dance across disciplines, media and genres, on stage, in film and virtual reality, across generations and communities, in education, and in public space and heritage. Through regional and international collaborations, En–Knap Productions continues to redefine contemporary dance.
INTERART (MK)
The Interart cultural center, founded by the choreographer Risima Risimkin in 1996, is initially dedicated to the development of the contemporary dance scene in Macedonia, and later, after being led by the sculptor Matea Mijanoviкј, to contemporary art, especially to the connections between contemporary dance, visual arts and the music. The center designs project lines, in the field of contemporary dance, visual arts and music, on several levels: education, production and presentation, with which in the past 26 years, it has opened a wide platform for the development of contemporary art in Macedonia.
KINO ŠIŠKA CENTRE FOR URBAN CULTURE (SI)
Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture leads the way in fostering contemporary and urban creativity in Ljubljana and Slovenia. Since 2009, it has served as a venue for music, theatre, dance, and experimental events, while also offering progressive production facilities. Kino Šiška's program embodies urban life, multiculturalism, and cutting-edge technology, fostering innovation, creativity, and international collaboration. Kino Šiška established some well renowned brands, such as MENT Ljubljana festival, DobraVaga gallery, CoFestival for contemporary dance, Tinta comics festival, and Špil liga band league.
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DANCE BUCHAREST (RO)
The National Center for Dance Bucharest (CNDB) is an essential institution for the development of Romanian dance culture and represents a unique structure among all other performance institutions subordinated to the Romanian Ministry of Culture. The institution functions as a producer and host of performances, while also working towards equally important goals, such as research, documentation, and archiving, but also the development of programs and projects of art education and professional training. CNDB generates, organizes, and promotes programs and projects that contribute to the development of contemporary dance culture, facilitating the local scene’s participation in an international dialogue.
