{"id":18660,"date":"2026-06-10T15:59:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T12:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dance.lt\/new\/?p=18660"},"modified":"2026-06-10T15:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T12:59:19","slug":"baltic-dance-platform-2026-all-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dance.lt\/new\/en\/2026\/06\/10\/baltic-dance-platform-2026-all-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltic Dance Platform 2026: All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Baltic Dance Platform, held in Vilnius from April 22\u201325, was a major event on the contemporary dance scene in Lithuania and the Baltic region. The event in the Lithuanian capital attracted around 200 dance professionals from around the world\u2014Ireland, Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Scotland, Taiwan, and Ukraine. Among them were artists, dance festival directors, program curators, producers, managers, journalists, critics, dramaturgs, and other professionals in the dance field.<\/b><\/p>\n

The programme featured twenty-three dance projects from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia selected by an international jury: eight full-length performances, twelve short presentations by dance theaters and artists, and three performance presentations in an open studio format. In total, the number of selected artists and members of their creative teams reached 67 people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Performances, photos by Ieva J\u016bra.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Baltic Dance Congress, held for the first time as part of the platform, invited dance professionals to critically reflect on dance trends in the Baltic region and the challenges facing contemporary dance in a global context.\u00a0 The congress stood out for its reflective format, dominated by lively, engaging formats and sharp discussions.\u00a0 The programme consisted of three panel discussions, five presentations by international dance professionals, managers, and dramaturgs, and one open discussion that invited participants to engage interactively with the issues at hand. Twenty-three speakers and five moderators participated in the discussions, and as many as seventy congress participants actively joined the open-format conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the platform, the Lithuanian Dance Information Center\u2019s collaboration with \u201cSpringback,\u201d Europe\u2019s leading network of dance critics, was further strengthened. Its members were actively involved in the programme and became a visible part of the platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the performances, lively, open discussions with the artists took place, moderated by duos from the international team: journalist Emily May (United Kingdom) together with dance artist R\u016bta P\u016bce (Latvia), as well as dance critic and playwright Anastasios Koukoutas (Greece) together with dance artist Liza Baliasnaja (Lithuania).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Open discussions, photos by Ieva J\u016bra.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anastasios Koukoutas and dance critic Fatemeh Esmaeilghorbaninejad (Iran\/France) presented their papers at the conference, while Lithuanian dance critic Dmitrijus Andru\u0161anecas coordinated the conference events. Following the event, journalist Emily May prepared a detailed review, published in Springback Magazine, which can be found on the publication\u2019s website here.<\/span><\/p>\n

In collaboration with the Lithuanian Contemporary Dance Association, an additional networking program was offered to the platform\u2019s participants. It consisted of a city tour with artist Denisas Kolomyckis, a morning training session for dancers, and an informal get-together at the independent cultural space \u201cSodas2123.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The platform\u2019s events took place in as many as four different venues in Vilnius: the MO Museum, the Lithuanian National Drama Theater, Men\u0173 spaustuv\u0117, and the campus of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2019, this joint project of the three countries, held every two years in a different Baltic capital, has been strengthening the visibility of contemporary dance in the region, introducing creators to an international audience, and creating a space for collaboration and knowledge exchange among cultural professionals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maria Solei J\u00e4rvet, an emerging Estonian dance artist, participated in the platform for the first time. Together with artist Juulius Vaiksoo, she was selected to present her work to an international audience as part of a programme of short presentations. In 2025, Maria was also selected to participate in the project \u201cBaltic Dance Network: Searching for Identity in the Face of Change,\u201d organized by the Lithuanian Dance Information Center and five Baltic partners. As part of this project, she led a dance workshop in Latvia last year and participated in a residency in Estonia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maria Solei J\u00e4rvet and Juulius Vaiksoo, photos by Ieva J\u016bra.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the artist, participating in the Baltic Dance Network project and the Baltic Dance Platform was particularly significant for her professional journey, and today she finds it hard to imagine what her creative work would look like without these experiences:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore joining this network, I did not realise how deeply I longed for spaces like this as a dance artist. Through residencies, workshops, and exchanges between artists and organisations, I began to understand how essential these connections are. I was very happy to share a workshop within the network, which allowed me to meet many inspiring artists, producers and dance houses. When I arrived in Vilnius for the Baltic Dance Platform at the end of April, I already felt part of a wider community rather than arriving alone. That sense of belonging has been very meaningful, as these networks become more than professional platforms \u2013 they become spaces of support, exchange and continuity. Continuing to move, create and show up for each other is, in itself, a form of resilience,\u201d says M. S. J\u00e4rvet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

Organisers of the Baltic Dance Platform: Lithuanian Dance Information Centre, Latvian Dance Information Centre, Estonian contemporary dance development platform \u201cS\u00f5ltumatu Tantsu Lava\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Partners: Contemporary Dance Association (LT), Choreographers\u2019 Association (LV), Estonian Dance Art and Dance Education Union (EE).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Baltic Dance Platform is funded by: Vilnius City Municipality, Nordic\u2013Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, Lithuanian Council for Culture, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Partners: Lithuanian Culture Institute, Aerowaves, Springback, Arts Printing House, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, MO Museum.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Baltic Dance Congress is part of the Baltic Dance Network events. The aim of the Baltic Dance Network is to create a safe space for Baltic contemporary dance artists to build connections, analyse shared histories, explore Baltic dance identity, and better understand the context and uniqueness of each country \u2013 Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Baltic Dance Network is supported by the Nordic Culture Point Nordic\u2013Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture (Long-Term Network). The network consists of six official partners: Lithuanian Dance Information Centre (lead partner), Contemporary Dance Association (Lithuania), Latvian Dance Information Centre, Choreographers\u2019 Association (Latvia), Estonian contemporary dance development platform \u201cS\u00f5ltumatu Tantsu Lava\u201d (Estonia), and the Estonian Dance Art and Dance Education Union.<\/span><\/p>\n



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