The residency program at Derida Dance Center is a project that the team has been developing since its inception in 2010. Through this program, we provide conditions for both Bulgarian and foreign artists to work on their artistic projects and to present the results of their creative process to the audience at Derida Stage. This is one of our team’s key initiatives, as it additionally creates conditions for intercultural exchange of artists, opportunities for future creative interactions, diversifies cultural content in the local context, and contributes to the better international positioning of Derida Dance Center. To date, more than 55 Bulgarian and 90 international residencies from Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia, and Africa have been realized. In 2014, the residency program model at Derida Dance Center was recognized as one of the four best practices by the European Commission and was included in the guidebook for artistic residencies.

In 2023, the 13th edition of the “Residency Program at Derida Dance Center” takes place, providing 9 artistic residencies (6 international and 4 Bulgarian) that add value to the cultural life of the capital. The focus is on the professional development, skill enhancement, and opportunities for expression of young Bulgarian artists under the mentorship of Zhivko Zhelyazkov and the visiting international choreographers.The international choreographers will conduct week-long dance workshops and share their experiences with their Bulgarian colleagues, including the use of new technologies and exploring new possibilities for articulating choreographic language.

Derida Dance Center Residency Program is implemented with the financial support of the Cultural Calendar of the Sofia Municipality and the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria – program “One-year grant” and program for “Recovery and development of private cultural organisations”.