TRILATERAL
Dance Artists Exchange 2025-26 2nd Edition
Budapest | Sofia | Philadelphia
CALL FOR ARTISTS now open. Deadline: June 10, 2025
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), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Budapest (Hungary). 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 a history of self-produced dance and/or performance work
● Be available for the entire duration of the program, including all three residency periods
● Be willing 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.
What is Offered:
● Each artist 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 2023/24, this
second edition will continue to evolve based on unput from both the 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.
BILATERAL Artists previously selected: https://www.philadanceprojects.org/projects/bilateral/
TRILATERAL Artists: https://www.philadanceprojects.org/trilateral-budapest-sofia-philadelphia-dance-artist-exchange-2/
APPLY HERE
Please submit your application via the appropriate Google Form by JUNE 10, 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.