The first Balkan Dance Platform (BDP) has the ambition to put Balkan developments in dance on the wider world dance map, explained Andreea Grecu, project assistant for the first edition of the platform. The first BDP will take place in Sofia from November 29 until December 2.

Since little is known abroad about dance produced in countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia and Yugoslavia, the project aims at popularizing the various contemporary techniques in the countries presented. "It is also a very useful initiative to bring performers from these countries together - giving them rare chances to meet," Grecu said.

The BDP's organizers intend to attract 25 choreographers and dancers for the four-day sequence of performances. Between 12 and 15 contemporary dance groups and independent artists from Balkan countries will present their work to local audiences and international guests (dance promoters and choreographers from Europe and the U.S.).

The platform will include performances by the participating dance groups and independent artists, video screenings of additional dance work from the region, technique classes for the participants, and a local dance community every morning led by two well-known American choreographers, Mark Taylor and Yoshiko Chuma.

"The first edition of the Balkan Dance Performance came as a result of a brainstorm in a debate in Slovakia," Grecu recalled. All of the dance organizations decided to launch the platform and transform it into an annual event.

"Our idea is to mostly concentrate on the local contemporary dancers and choreography," she said. For her, contemporary art is not elitist art but similar to the art created in all of the Balkan countries.

Opening the platform will be a Bulgarian National Night, with a presentation of Sleeping Dog by choreographer Masaki Iwana (Japan), and the dancers Juliana Saiska, Ivo Dimchev, and Mila Ivanova. Another event scheduled for the opening will be the three spectacles held in the Tear and Laughter Theatre.

Yogurt by Petya Stoykova, Heteropods by Rossen Mihajlov and 17th of October by Galina Borissova and Ivo Dimchev will be the shows highlighting contemporary dance at the opening.

The following day will be devoted to Macedonian work. Peepsorrow by Dalija Acin, Organization of Work by Isidora Stanisic and QB2 by Iskra Sukarova will be performed at the Tear and Laughter Theatre.

On December 1, Romanian contemporary choreographers will take to the stage with Outcome by Manuel Pelmus, The Old Man from the Border by Eduard Gabia and About You by Vava Stefanescu at the Tear and Laughter Theatre at 8pm.

At the closing of the BDP, Bulgarian dancers will perform Lynch by Mila Iskrenova, Looking for Versavia by Galina Borissova, Deep Blue by Borjana Sechanova and In the Footprints of... by Olesya Pantikina.

The second edition of the platform will take place next year in September in Bucharest, Romania organized with the help of the Project Dance Cultural Management Foundation.

This year's main organizer is The Red House, in collaboration with Project DCM Foundation (Bucharest) and the Soros Centre for the Arts and the Open Society Institute - Sofia.

For those wishing to go to the performances, they can get in touch with the Red House at 980 0244.