Baltic Dance Platform 2024 announces selected participants
In tough competition after thorough work done by the international jury, artists and works to be presented at the third Baltic Dance Platform are announced. The platform will take place from February 9 till 11, 2024 and this time the honor and responsibility to host that goes to Riga, Latvia.
The Baltic Dance Platform is curated by three Baltic states aiming to introduce latest tendencies in Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian dance with particular focus to the visibility of Baltic dance in the international context. Dance professionals will have an opportunity to meet performing art experts from all around the world. The first Baltic Dance Platform took place in 2019 in Vilnius, the second one in 2022 in Tallinn and now for 2024 it is time for Riga. More detailed information and registration for the Baltic Dance Platform will be soon available on www.balticdance.org.
International selection
In total, 77 applications were submitted for the open call for Baltic Dance Platform. Dance artists had an opportunity to apply in two categories: performances and pitch presentations. In the beginning of summer an international jury consisting of five experts selected three dance performances and five pitch presentations from each Baltic country. The juru members were: Julia Asperska (Poland) – an Associate Curator at “Internationale Tanzmesse NRW”, Pedro Barreiro (Portugal) – dance artist and the artistic director of “Portuguese Platform for Performing Arts”, Johanna Ikola (Finland) – choreographer, dancer, the artistic director of the “Full Moon Dance Festival”; Bush Hartshorn (UK) – dramaturg, theater programmer and artistic director of festivals, Gergely Talló (Hungary) – curator and producer, director of the Hungarian contemporary dance organization “Workshop Foundation”.
While selecting the works, the jury got a solid insight into the Baltic dance scene, its variety and the jury is grateful for this opportunity and for the courage of artists. During the discussions the jury stressed the diversity of Baltic dance, pointing out conceptually strong works on topical themes, technical and performing skills, successful work with time and space and also work with the communities and the strengths of group choreography. The jury pinpointed how important it is when applying for pitches to get to know the artist and why they are passionate about their idea.
Estonia will be represented by Netti Nüganen’s “The Myth: last day”, Sveta Grigorjeva with “Dances to Dream, Res(is)t and Sleep to”, as well as Sigrid Savi and Hanna Kritten Tangsoo with the performance “Cowbody. Oh wow, it’s you!”.
In pitch sessions Liisi Hint & Maria Ladopoulos, “BET project”, Johhan Rosenberg, Valeria Januškevitš and “Unholy Trinity” will be presented.
Latvia during the Baltic Dance Platform 2024 will be represented by: “Untitled Movement Lecture” by choreographer Līga Ūbele, “Vērpete” by Krišjānis Sants and Erik Eriksson and a performance by Jette Loona Hermanis, Anna Ansone, Krišjānis Elviks, Sofija Frančeska Putniņa, Martina Gofmane “FrostBite”.
And opportunity to present their work at the pitch sessions will be given to: IevaKrish, apvienība “SIXT” Dance Company, Jana Jacuka, Sintija Žīgure and Ramona Galkina.
Lithuania will be represented in Riga by Dovydas Strimaitis from “Still waiting” (France) and “BE Company” (Lithuania) with the performance “A Duet”, Lukas Karvelis from “BE Company” with “Yet Another Day in Paradise” and Grėtė Šmitaitė with her work “Cracks”.Selected artists for the pitch sessions are “Dansema Dance Theater”, “BE Company”, Liza Baliasnaja, Julijonas Urbonas, “Low Air Theatre”.
The Baltic Dance Platform is organised by The Lithuanian Dance Information Centre, The Estonian contemporary dance performance and development center Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava, The Latvian Dance Information Centre and Choreographers Association.