TRILATERAL DANCE ARTIST EXCHANGE 25/26

Budapest | Sofia | Philadelphia

BodyMeld – Sofia, Workshop Foundation – Budapest, and Philadelphia Dance Projects – Philadelphia announce the second program of the Trilateral Dance Artist Exchange.

The Trilateral Dance Artist Exchange is an artist-led cultural exchange residency that takes place in Budapest, Hungary; Philadelphia, USA and Sofia, Bulgaria. One artist from each city will be invited through an open call to participate in a 7-10 day residency scheduled at three different times over the span of one year.

All three artists will be in the same city at the same time. The content of the residency will be designed in collaboration with the selected artists and the local presenters. There is freedom in the residencies, so it is understood that artists need not produce new work, but can share their ideas through informal and formal discussions, teaching, showings, and social interaction. They can tailor the residency to the environments of each city. It is anticipated that the residency artists will stay in communication throughout the year.

The Trilateral Cultural Exchange is a pilot project coming from the Bilateral Budapest/Philadelphia exchange.

The program is supported by the Trust for Mutual Understanding.

ANNOUNCING SELECTED TRILATERAL ARTISTS 25/26

Emiliya Toncheva

Sofia

Viola Levai

Budapest

Adam Kerbel

Philadelphia

Trilateral Dance Artist Cultural Exchange kicks off in Philadelphia, USA in Septemver 2025.

Emiliya Toncheva is an actress, dancer, and choreographer. She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, China, earning a degree in Acting on a full scholarship. Upon returning to Bulgaria, she furthered her education with a degree in Dance Theater from New Bulgarian University.
She has performed extensively in both theater and dance, and has been a member of the “Karakashyan and Artists” dance company since its inception in 2021. Her solo performance Almost Like You, directed by Kosta Karakashyan, premiered in 2025. In addition to her work as a performer, she has contributed as a choreographer to a range of theatrical productions.
In her authorial projects, Emiliya Toncheva explores the human striving for perfection and the inherently doomed attempts to create utopian societies that ultimately give way to dystopia.

Viola LévaiI’m Viola Lévai, 33 years old, a Budapest-based freelance contemporary dancer. I finished my BA at the Budapest Circus Arts and Contemporary Dance College 10 years ago as a Contemporary Dancer and completed my MA there as a Dance Teacher 3 years ago. Currently, I teach release technique and contact improvisation at the same institution and its preparatory course. Alongside teaching, I create and perform in various projects, mainly presented in alternative or site-specific settings. My most recent community-based movement research was a collaboration with the Kaland Budapest collective. We explored “Contact Parkour” as a potential form of community movement practice…What excites me most is discovering and deepening our knowledge of the body through research and play, and discovering its infinite possibility. I’m passionate about making creativity and physical self-expression accessible to adults—both in the professional and amateur spheres. I see dance not just as performance, but as a shared inquiry—something that lives between people and grows through exchange. Webpage: https://violaworks.hu/

Adam Kerbel (he/him/el) is a movement artist and choreographer working across choreography, improvisation, and hybrid forms as tools for reflection and connection. With roots in theater, circus, puppetry, and experimental performance, his work has been presented by New York Live Arts, Jacob’s Pillow, The Music Center, Skirball, and Breaking Walls Festival. He established Performa Choreographic, a platform for brave new dance, co-founded Almanac, and produced Cannonball. Kerbel creates spaces attuned to shifting culture. Visit adamkerbel.com. Follow @adam_kerbel.

Trilateral Dance Artist Exchange is happening for the second time. We hope to continue the program for years to come. Stay tuned for more information and, hopefully, another open call in 2026/27. To see the past open call for artists, go here.