
International contemporary dance festival
by Aerowaves – Dance across Europe platform
23-25 March, Sofia
Aerowaves – Dance across Europe is the only contemporary dance platform in Europe which is supported by the EU’s Creative Europe program. 45 organizations from 33 European countries are partnering in the platform. It is founded in 1996. TOP 20 emerging choreographers are selected during partners’ annual meetings. These meetings are also the time when the partners work on performative arts development strategies. The Spring Forward festival is one of the most important tools for development. It takes place every year in a different country. By now it’s been hosted in Ljubljana, Bassano del Grappa, Zurich, Umeå, Bercelona, Pilsen, Aarhus. In March 2018 Spring Forward will be in Sofia, and in 2019 In Paris.

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SEETOP 20 PERFORMANCES IN EUROPE


Why Spring Forward festival is a significant and strategic event on a global scale?
During the festival:
- 20 emerging choreographers’ performances (selected out of 637) will be presented. The selection is made by 45 jury members from 33 countries from geographical Europe.
- The Spring back academy will be held. This is a critic writing academy lead by established mentors in the field. 10 young talents from all over Europe are selected to take part in it and to write critic articles about the TOP 20 performances.
- Programs for developing new audiences and for presenting contemporary dance at non-traditional places are being developed (since 2018)
Greeting from Mrs. Yordanka Fandukova, mayor of Sofia.
In March 2018 Sofia will host the international festival Spring Forward by Aerowaves – the largest European platform for contemporary dance. We are honoured that Sofia is chosen to host such a big event especially during the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union. The job we did together with Derida Dance Center to make this project happen is an evidence of the cooperation between Sofia Municipality and the creative environments. One of the top priorities of Sofia are the investments in cultural development and providing access to huge variety of cultural events. Our city ranks among the top ten in Europe's capitals, contributing to the cultural and creative industries in the economy. More than 8% of town’s economics is generated by the cultural industries. Promoting creative industries is an important part of our cultural policy. We’ve developed two mechanisms for financing cultural products – “Culture” program and the Calendar of cultural events. Derida Dance Center is one of the strategic partners of Sofia Municipality and together we manage to build and bring successful contemporary performative arts projects to life. Through their Residency program which we support annually we’ve helped over 50 independent projects of artist from all over the world with which we have been able to strengthen the European dimension in the development of the sector. During the Spring Forward festival TOP 20 emerging European choreographers will be presented in Sofia. This is an example that through the mutual partnership between the Sofia Municipality and the creative sector we are working on presenting contemporary art at its highest level and we are actively involved in both Europe and the whole world’s cultural policies.

Achievement for the Bulgarian stage
For the very first time in the TOP 20 selection there is a Bulgarian performance - F63.9 by the choreographer Jivko Jeliazkov who is also one of the founders of Derida Dance Center. This is a historical moment for Bulgaria and it proves that the investments in culture are worth it. Hosting an event of that rank and especially the thought of a Bulgarian performance taking part in it was just a dream… until now. Being recognized by such a big international organization is a proof that our job is well done. By hosting Spring Forward the Bulgarian stage becomes the world’s dance hot spot. Just before the festival there will be a Bulgarian dance showcase organized. This is a special opportunity for our artists to be recognized by foreign producers, managers and directors.


Days
Performances
Guests
Program of the festival
Friday, 23 March
Spring Forward 2018 OpeningWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre;Official guests: Mrs Yordanka Fandakova - mayor of Sofia and Spring Forward 2018 Festival patron, Mr John Ashford - director of Aerowaves-Dance Across Europe platform Mr Atanas Maev - CEO of Derida Dance Center, host of Spring Forward 2018 festival | Friday, 23 March 2018 | 18:00 |
SCARABEO, Andrea Costanzo MartiniWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre | Friday, 23 March 2018 | 18:15 |
VOLITANT, Rita GobiWhere: Russian Cultural & Information Centre | Friday, 23 March 2018 | 19:15 |
REHEARSAL ON LOVE, Raekalio CorpWhere: THÉATRO | Friday, 23 March 2018 | 20:30 |
DANS, FOR SATAN, Hilde Ingeborg SanvoldWhere: THÉATRO | Friday, 23 March 2018 | 21:00 |
NASS (LESS GENS), Massala CompanyWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre | Friday, 23 March 2018 | 21:45 |
Saturday, 24 March
FORECASTING, Premier StratagèmeWhere: Russian Cultural & Information Centre | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 10:30 |
FORECASTING, Premier StratagèmeWhere: Russian Cultural & Information Centre | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 11:50 |
F 63.9, Derida CompanyWhere: THÉATRO | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 12:45 |
LIKES, Núria Guiu SagarraWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 15:15 |
OPUS, Leon & the WolfWhere: Russian Cultural & Information Centre | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 16:30 |
A MOMENT, SandmanWhere: THÉATRO | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 17:30 |
SIVER KNIFE, Goblin PartyWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 18:15 |
NOW, BEFORE WE GET TOO OLD, Jesús Rubio GamoWhere: Hall 11 - Lumiere cinema, National Palace of Culture | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 20:30 |
COUNTERBODY, Tangaj Dance CollectiveWhere: Azaryan Theatre, National Palace of Culture | Saturday, 24 March 2018 | 21:15 |
Sunday, 25 March
"Critical Issues" discussion with dance criticsThis event is open for festival guests only Place: Ramada hotel | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 09:30 |
HOPE HUNT, Oona DohertyWhere: Hall 11 - Lumiere cinema, National Palace of Culture | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 11:15 |
WRECK - List of extinct species, Insiemi IrrealiWhere: Azaryan Theatre, National Palace of Culture | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 12:00 |
touching.just, Aris Papadopoulos & Martha PasakopoulouWhere: Russian Cultural & Information Centre | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 13:00 |
KKOKORO, Luna CenereWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 13:45 |
BLANKS, Ingrid Berger MyhreWhere: Russian Cultural & Information Centre | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 16:00 |
DÉDALE, Jordan DeschampsWhere: THÉATRO | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 17:00 |
“GRRR, I’M DANCING”, Mathis KleinschnittgerWhere: Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 18:00 |
HOMO FURENS, Plan KWhere: Lumiere cinema, National Palace of Culture | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 19:30 |
BROTHER, Marco da Silva FerreiraWhere: Azaryan Theatre, National Palace of Culture | Sunday, 25 March 2018 | 20:15 |
Main partners
Media Partners
Partners
Контакти
Atanas Maev - CEO
admin@derida-dance.com
Milena Videnova – Event Manager
milena@cim.bg; 0884 276 422