On April 25, 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00, the city of Niš will host the VIII International Art Olympiad of Ballet and Dance Art of the Central Balkans, traditionally held on the stage of the National Theatre in Niš.
Over the past eight years, this event has developed into a significant platform in the field of dance art, bringing together young dancers, educators, and choreographers from across the region and Europe — a space where talent is recognized and foundations for future professional development are established.

This year’s Olympiad will bring together ensembles from Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, and Greece, presenting a wide range of dance disciplines.
The program begins at 10:00 with classical ballet and character dance, followed at 13:30 by the second part of the competition dedicated to contemporary stage forms — including contemporary dance, folk dance, show dance, and street styles.

The Olympiad in Niš represents the final qualification round of the Balkan ranking for participation in the Continental Grand Final of the Art Olympiad of Ballet and Dance Art, which will take place on June 6–7, 2026, in Thessaloniki.
The event is organized by the Balkan Alliance, under the artistic direction of Evgenia Trofimchuk, whose work focuses on connecting education, stage experience, and the professional development of young dancers.

PROFESSIONAL JURY
The quality of the program is evaluated by an international jury composed of distinguished artists:
▪️ Konstantin Kostyukov — Jury President, principal dancer and former Director of the Ballet of the National Theatre in Belgrade
▪️ Jovica Bogojev — principal dancer and Ballet Director of the National Theatre in Belgrade
▪️ Kristina Chochanova — soloist of the Sofia Opera and Ballet
▪️ Irena Bregu — ballet master, choreographer, and director of a ballet center in Greece
▪️ Teodora Spasić — prima ballerina of the National Theatre in Belgrade
▪️ Sofia Matyushenskaya — prima ballerina, graduate of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in Saint Petersburg, former prima ballerina of the Yakobson Theatre in Saint Petersburg

DANCEWAY PRO© EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM:
Within the framework of the event, master classes will be conducted as part of the DanceWay Pro© program:
🕧 12:30 — Classical repertoire
🕔 17:00 — Classical repertoire
🕔 17:00 — Neoclassical and jazz-modern

The master classes are intended for participants who wish to work directly with professional artists and improve their level of performance and training.

STATEMENTS
“Our mission is to create and develop a cultural environment in which the traditions and art of dance are nurtured, and where children and young people have the conditions necessary for their development. It is especially important for us to recognize talent and potential at an early stage, and to support young dancers in finding their educational and professional path,” stated Evgenia Trofimchuk.

“Working with young people requires time, continuity, and a proper stage. It is precisely on the stage in Niš that the organizers provide the opportunity to observe, in real conditions, the development, potential, and seriousness in the work of young dancers,” emphasized Konstantin Kostyukov.

The audience will have the opportunity, over the course of one day, to experience various directions of the art of dance — from classical discipline to contemporary styles — performed by young dancers who are building their stage careers.

📍 National Theatre Niš
📅 April 25, 2026
🕘 10:00–18:00
🌐 www.danceolympiad.org