On December 7 at 7:00 p.m., Derida Company will present the premiere of its new contemporary dance performance “Mirror of Illusions” – a performance dedicated to the dynamic between our inner authenticity and the images we create of ourselves in the digital reality.

“Mirror of Illusions” is a contemporary dance production that explores the relationship between our true essence and the image shaped by our personal projections. In the pursuit of acceptance and approval, people constantly control the way they are perceived. On social media, this ability reaches new dimensions – carefully selected shots, precisely edited photos, filters, and meticulously composed digital personas. Technological development expands virtual spaces for communication but also intensifies feelings of inadequacy, prompting the construction of increasingly idealized versions of ourselves.

The performance unfolds this process in a dramatic stage environment where the ideal virtual image and the real body come into conflict. Gradually, the illusion of harmony cracks, and the clash between expectations and reality leads to a painful yet liberating unveiling of the true “self.” Through movement, visual projections, and a rich soundscape, the performance transforms the stage into a laboratory of identity – a place where digital masks dissolve, allowing the human to reappear in its imperfect authenticity.

The choreography is by Jivko Jeliazkov, and the performers on stage are Vyara Bolgradova, Kalina Valchanova, Marina Popova, and Simona Todorova. The music is created by Ivan Shopov, the visual environment is by Ivelina Ivanova, and the photographic images for the project are by Ivona Mashova.

The producers of the performance are Atanas Maev and Mira Georgieva.

The premiere of “Mirror of Illusions” will take place on December 7, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Derida Stage, 32 Tsar Samuil St., Sofia.

The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund and Sofia Municipality through the Sofia Culture Program.