professional level training
APPLICATION
DEADLINE:
JANUARY 21st, 2023
6 sessions from
March to June 2023
in Sofia, Bulgaria.
About
BodyMeld Performance Research Academy is a professional multigenre program led by 5 international teachers in Sofia, Bulgaria. The academy has the goal to offer further education as well as a place for research in multigenre performance for working artists between 25 and 99.
We focus on instant composition and devised performance merging dance and the use of voice and emergent text/poetry. We base our inquiries within the body and sensation, using a universe of compositional tools to bring forth our inner worlds.
We are focused on the making of new performance, working toward shedding our armor and finding the power in being vulnerable and authentic. Only then do we feel we can start creating the rich poetic potential coded in our bodies and tie it to the years of knowledge and experience we share.
Who is this for:
The Academy is open to all nationals between 25 and 99 years. It is an in-person-only program. A prerequisite is at least two years of professional experience in the performance field, either as a choreographer/dancer, actor/director, performance artist, or singer/performer. Please, note that our base is always movement, so you should feel comfortable moving and aware of your body in order to delve deeper into all of the possible compositional modes. We are seeking mature people, who are interested in expanding their own knowledge and possibilities within this field. The goal of this program is to create a cohort of multigenerational researchers that by the end would share knowledge, language, and tools to continue creating and expanding their own practice of devised performance.
We do not accept students enrolled in a different higher education program.
The official language of the academy is English, but translation to Bulgarian is offered when needed.
5
international teachers
6
week-long sessions
20
International participants
FREE Tuition
once accepted
Teachers
Five international teachers each of whom have more than 20 years of professional experience in instant composition working with dance, voice, and text.
Peter Sciscioli (USA)
Zornitsa Stoyanova (USA/BUL)
Paolo Cingolani (ITA)
Megan Bridge (USA)
Stephen Batts (N. Ireland)
Schedule:
In order to attend the academy you have to commit to all six modules. Please, note that some modules are half days and some modules are full days over the span of a work week (5 days). We are hoping that this makes it more possible for people who are working or rehearsing for other projects to attend.
IN-PERSON AUDITION – Jan. 29th, 2023 10:00h – 14:00h in Sofia.
This will be an open class, mutual audition led by Zornitsa Stoyanova. Once you submit your application you will be notified if you are invited to the in-person audition. 35 people max will be invited to the in-person audition.
ALTERNATIVE ONLINE AUDITION – if you are unable to attend the in-person audition, please submit your application with as much detail and video of your work as you think we would need. We will contact you for an interview to meet and see if the program would be a good fit.

Module 1 with Peter Sciscioli (USA)
Voice as Movement
March 6th – 10th, 2023 – 10:00 – 14:00
BIOGRAPHIES
Why do we do this? How is it FREE?
We create art because otherwise, life is only about survival. And if we only survive, we can never thrive, and we can never be happy. We engage with artmaking and supporting and educating others because we feel this to be the ultimate reason for living on this planet and sharing our life with others.
So we do our best to make art possible for everyone. We start by supporting artists and art makers so they can in turn support others and bring communities together.
BodyMeld Performance Research Academy is a long dream come true!
It is made possible with partial support of the National Fund “Culture” of Bulgaria and the long-term savings of BodyMeld.
We are always looking for partners in making amazing things happen. If you’d like to join in on our vision or would like to donate a little bit of money, we definitely welcome it. If you have an idea for a partnership, just email us or check out how to become a sponsor (corporate or not) below.
Cost of staying in Sofia, Bulgaria.
While the program is free to attend, we do not offer any financial assistance for housing or travel. We understand that it could be quite difficult for some folks are able to offer letters of acceptance so that you can apply for travel funding from your own country.
Generally, an Airbnb one-bedroom apartment for single people or a couple in Sofia is about 30 Euros per night and is a bit more expensive in the center of the city.
You can find two-bedroom apartments for around 40 to 45 Euro per night to share with another person and very few apartments are available for around 50 Euro a night.
In Sofia, if you go out to the center to a nice restaurant you can expect to pay anywhere from 15 to 50 Euro per person, depending on alcohol consumption and the restaurant. Outside of that you can comfortably cook at home and spend 10 Euro a day on mostly vegetarian food.
Sofia is a 2 mil. people city with many districts, a great metro, and tons of public transportation. In general, is quite easy to get to the center if you choose an apartment in one of the cheaper districts.
Contact us with any questions
contact Zornitsa Stoyanova directly at zornitsa@bodymeld.org or
through Viber or WhatsApp at +359 879225799