OPEN CALL
TRILATERAL DANCE ARTIST EXCHANGE
September 2025 - May 2026
Philadelphia | Budapest | Sofia
Philadelphia Dance Projects - Philadelphia, Workshop Foundation - Budapest and BodyMeld - Sofia announces an OPEN CALL for dance artists active in the contemporary dance scenes of Philadelphia, Sofia, or Budapest to apply for the Trilateral Dance Artist Exchange.
This program is generously supported by the Trust for Mutual Understanding, celebrating 40 years of fostering cultural exchange.
TIMELINE:
The exchange includes three residencies, each lasting 12-15 days.
The Budapest and Sofia residencies will be scheduled back-to-back in late spring 2026. Exact dates and sequencing will be discussed and finalized with the selected artists.
- September 17 - October 2, 2025 - Philadelphia, USA
- May 2026 - Budapest, Hungary (exact dates TBA)
- May-June 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria (exact dates TBA)
DESCRIPTION:
The Trilateral Dance Artist Exchange is an artist-led international residency program that takes place in Philadelphia (USA), Budapest (Hungary) and Sofia (Bulgaria). One artist from each city will be invited to participate in all three residencies.
All three artists will be in residence in the same city at the same time.
The content of each residency will be shaped collaboratively by the selected artists and local organizers. Rather than focusing on production, the residency emphasizes dialogue, artistic exchange, and community engagement through informal and formal discussions, workshops, showings, and social interaction. Artists are encouraged to adapt their contributions to each city’s unique environment.
Participants are expected to stay in communication throughout the full duration of the program, creating space for ongoing dialogue.
The Trilateral Exchange is an evolution of the Bilateral Budapest–Philadelphia Dance Artist Exchange, which began in 2012.
ELIGIBILITY:
We invite applications from dance artists/choreographers working in contemporary and experimental movement practices. Applicants must:
- Be based in Philadelphia, Sofia, or Budapest, and have lived and/or worked in one of these cities for at least one year prior to applying
- Be committed to cultural and artistic exchange and interested in engaging in conversations about their own work
- Be eager to share knowledge and insights about their artistic practice and local dance community
- Have experience creating and presenting their own dance or performance work
- Be available for the entire duration of the program, including all three residency periods
- Participants are required to write short reports/reflections about the program
A key component of the residency is the collective experience: all three artists will travel together for each residency. When the residency takes place in an artist’s home city, they are expected to fully engage in all residency activities.
We welcome applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists—especially those curious to explore new ideas and forms of collaboration.
Working language of the residency: English
WHAT IS OFFERED:
- Each artists will receive a stipend of $3300, paid in three installments
- Travel, accommodation, insurance, and visa/ESTA costs
- Access to rehearsal space, cultural events, and local activities depending on residency design
Please note: stipends will be paid by Philadelphia Dance Projects (USA). Artists are responsible for any tax obligations according to their local regulations.
BACKGROUND:
The TRILATERAL Exchange has developed out of a BILATERAL: Budapest/Philadelphia Exchange began in 2012, where visiting artists have explored each city’s dance and performance communities. This expanded edition is intended to not only give artists the experience of being in a different city but also to develop a more direct relationship with the other artists in terms of sharing their artistic practice and their corresponding experience of living and creating performances on their own home base. Time will be built into the Exchange to experience each city’s culture, social habits, and landmarks.
Sustaining relationships, keeping ongoing dialogues between artists, and sharing strategies for dealing with both the opportunities they have and the difficulties they face, seem never more important than the present. Through the BILATERAL we have recognized the value of this experience, both with the similarities and challenges that each city’s artistic communities face.
We have continually refined the exchange model based on direct feedback from both artists and partnering organizations. After a successful pilot edition of the TRILATERAL in 2023, this second edition will continue to evolve based on input from both artists and organizational partners, helping shape a sustainable, inspiring framework for future TRILATERAL Exchanges.
We all have much to gain from knowing each other through the arts, in this instance dance and movement-based performance. The power of imagination remains key everywhere. To this end we look forward to a TRILATERAL: Budapest/Philadelphia/Sofia Dance Artist Exchange.
Artists previously selected: https://www.philadanceprojects.org/projects/bilateral/
APPLY HERE
Please submit your application via the appropriate Google Form by June 10th, 2025 (end of day, local time).
Philadelphia Artists: https://forms.gle/Sd6zPqJUDWoyhLLF7
Budapest Artists: https://forms.gle/cP8vheZLAX9LhHPr5
Sofia Artists: https://forms.gle/H2NAbLsS6GzrBBiLA
Selected artists will be notified by the end of June 2025.
Supported by:
