International encounters are an essential part of the development of contemporary dance — spaces where ideas are exchanged, new artistic voices are discovered, and partnerships emerge that continue long after a festival has ended.
During the summer of 2026, Atanas Maev, Co-founder and General Manager of Derida Dance Center, embarked on an intensive international journey connecting professional forums and festivals across Galicia, Croatia, Sicily, Malta, and Crete.
It was a journey filled with performances, conversations, discoveries, and new encounters — but also one that opened concrete possibilities for future artistic exchange.
Galicia: Encounters, Ideas, and International Exchange
One of the first stops on Atanas’ international journey was Galicia and the 2026 Dance Internationalisation Forum at ABANEA.
The forum created a valuable space for international dance professionals to meet, exchange experience, and discuss the future of contemporary dance and the possibilities for developing connections beyond national borders.
Special thanks to Paula Quintas and Pilar Portela for the invitation, the warm welcome, and the meaningful professional exchange.
Galicia became the beginning of a series of encounters that, over the following weeks, would take Atanas to new festival stages and professional communities across Europe.
Šibenik Dance Festival: When the City Becomes a Stage
The journey continued to Croatia and Šibenik Dance Festival 2026, a vibrant meeting point for contemporary dance in one of the most beautiful settings on the Adriatic.
For one week, Šibenik itself becomes a stage, with performances unfolding beyond conventional theatre spaces — in historic fortresses, public squares, cultural venues, and unexpected corners of the city.
The festival brings together emerging talents, established artists, and international cultural professionals, creating a unique dialogue between contemporary dance, the city’s architecture, the sea, and the energy of summer.
More than a festival programme, Šibenik Dance Festival is a space for discovery, professional exchange, new encounters, and future collaborations — another reminder of the importance of bringing people and ideas together.
Teatri Riflessi: From Sicily to Sofia
From 16 to 20 July 2026, the international journey continued to Zafferana Etnea, Sicily, for Teatri Riflessi Festival.
Atanas Maev was invited to serve as a member of the jury for the festival’s international competition, part of an important forum bringing together artists, programmers, jury members, and professionals from the fields of dance and performing arts from different countries.
Alongside discovering a strong selection of international artistic work and taking part in the festival’s professional dialogue, Atanas also had the pleasure, on behalf of Derida Dance Center, of presenting a special award for outstanding performance to Moad Haddadi / Compagnie Masse Art for NARI CHTAHT.
The award comes with an invitation for the artist to become part of the programme of Derida Dance Fest in Sofia in 2027.
In this way, an international festival encounter will find its natural continuation in Sofia, transforming professional exchange into a concrete opportunity for Bulgarian audiences to discover a new international artist.
Our warmest thanks go to the entire Teatri Riflessi team for the invitation, hospitality, and inspiring festival experience, as well as to all the artists, jury members, programmers, and professionals who made the edition so special.
Dance Festival Malta: An Encounter Continuing into 2027
On 20 July, Atanas travelled directly from Sicily to the next destination — Malta.
Before the opening of Dance Festival Malta, held from 23 to 27 July, there were a few days to experience the beauty, rhythm, and atmosphere of the island. One memorable moment was the Katy Perry concert on 22 July, an exciting musical prelude to the festival days ahead.
Dance Festival Malta presented an exceptionally intensive programme of performances, professional encounters, and discussions, bringing together diverse artistic voices from Malta and around the world.
The days were filled with dance, conversations, meetings with colleagues and friends, and encounters with new people who share common values and a vision for the development of contemporary dance.
Most importantly, the exchange will not remain only a beautiful festival memory: in 2027, Derida Company will be part of the sixth edition of Dance Festival Malta.
Our warmest thanks go to Francesca Tranter and the entire Dance Festival Malta team for their hospitality, energy, and dedication to the development of both the festival and the contemporary dance scene in Malta.
Dance Days Chania: A Shared Mission and New Possibilities for Collaboration
Immediately after Malta, the journey continued to the island of Crete.
From 27 to 29 July, Atanas joined Dance Days Chania, a festival bringing together artists, performances, professional meetings, conversations, and work-in-progress presentations.
Chania welcomed its international guests with its distinctive atmosphere, warm people, beautiful views, and a programme filled with dance, curiosity, and artistic exchange.
During the festival, Atanas had the opportunity to meet Sofia Falierou, Director of Dance Days Chania, and Chryssa Georgiou, Production Manager, and to discuss possibilities for future exchange between Dance Days Chania and Derida Dance Center.
The two organisations share not only a mission to support the development and sustainable growth of dance, but also a small and joyful coincidence — they both use the abbreviation DDC.
The visit was short but deeply meaningful: an opportunity to meet colleagues, discover new artistic work, and once again experience how important international encounters are for the contemporary dance scene.
A big thank you to the entire Dance Days Chania team for the invitation, care, and beautiful experience.
International Encounters as an Investment in the Future
The journey from Galicia through Šibenik, Sicily, Malta, and Chania represents much more than an exceptionally intensive festival period. It is part of Derida Dance Center’s long-term commitment to building sustainable international connections and creating new opportunities for artists and audiences.
Each destination brings a different context, new artistic voices, and new professional encounters. Together, they form a network in which exchange can gradually grow into concrete future collaborations — from the invitation extended to Moad Haddadi / Compagnie Masse Art to join Derida Dance Fest in Sofia, to Derida Company’s participation in Dance Festival Malta in 2027.
July was intense, but deeply inspiring.
And the journey does not end here.
After the European festival route comes a new continent and another festival stage — Dança em Trânsito in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
We continue building bridges — through movement, encounters, and dance.
