Training new generations of artists is at the heart of Derida Dance Center’s work. Our two programmes support dancers and choreographers at different stages of their professional path.
Dance PORT Derida is the centre’s first training programme, launched in 2011. The year-long module in contemporary dance and physical theatre includes classes every weekday: contemporary dance, modern dance, classical ballet and other dance practices, as well as workshops with guest choreographers from Europe, America, Canada and Asia.
More than 90 dancers have graduated from the programme, and many of them are now among the most active artists in contemporary dance in Bulgaria. Its artistic director is choreographer Jivko Jeliazkov.
The mentorship programme was launched in 2023 as a natural next step after Dance PORT Derida. Over six months, selected young choreographers work with Jivko Jeliazkov and a team of mentors: Ida Daniel (dramaturgy), Ivan Shopov (music and sound), Albena Baeva (visual environment and new media), Viktor Georgiev (lighting design) and Atanas Maev (arts management).
The programme combines theory and practice, individual consultations and professional development plans. It ends with a public presentation of dance miniatures of up to 15 minutes at Derida Stage, and the strongest projects can continue in the Derida Dance Center Residency Program.
© 2026 Art Link Foundation (Derida Stage, Derida Dance Center). This site was created within the framework of the project “Sustainable development of Derida Stage”, financed by the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the program “Recovery and development of private cultural organizations ’22”.
In the period 2020-2023, the activities of Art Link Foundation (Derida Stage, Derida Dance Center) became possible thanks to the financial support under the structural anti-COVID-19 programs of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria: One-year program to support private professional organizations in Arts / Pilot Session 2020, One-Year Grant Program 21, One-Year Grant Program 22, and Recovery and Development of Private Cultural Organizations Program ’22. We thank the National Culture Fund for the support and trust!
