The Exit Is a Myth – Contemporary Dance Performance by Derida Dance Center

Premiere: July 26th, 2025

Location: Merida, Spain

CREDITS:

Choreograph: Jivko Jeliazkov

Dancers: Simona Todorova, Adreana Vaseva, Kalina Valchanova and Deniz Chakar

Visual artist: Ivelina Ivanova

Composer: Ivan Shopov

Actor’s voice: Juan Carlos Tirado Águilar

Production team: Derida Dance Center, Mira Georgieva and Atanas Maev

Photos and Visual identity: Ivona Mashova and Maria Minkova

THE EXIT IS A MYTH is a contemporary dance performance that delves into the depths of human psychology, isolation, and identity. Inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ short story “The House of Asterion”, the performance reimagines the myth of the Minotaur—not as a monster, but as a consciousness trapped in a labyrinth of fears, prejudices, and solitude.

Through the physical expression of movement, the performance embodies the sensation of entrapment—an endless cycle of expectation and rejection. The labyrinth is no longer just a mythical space but a psychological state, a world where the boundary between the external and the internal is torn apart by social stigmatization.

Engaging with real-life testimonies from members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the performance weaves together fragments of lived isolation, fear, and the longing for acceptance. The body becomes a vessel for untold stories, for the unspoken questions: When do we become monsters? Who draws the walls of our labyrinth? And is there truly an exit, or is it merely a myth?

THE EXIT IS A MYTH is more than a performance—it is an emotional exploration of vulnerability, resistance, and the strength to be different.

“(In)Visible” raises questions without seeking definitive answers—who decides who is seen and who remains in the shadows? Is isolation a choice or a necessity? Can we truly connect in spaces meant for cleansing, or do we remain prisoners of our own boundaries? And can dance serve as a bridge between worlds—both public and private—that seldom meet?

JIVKO JELIAZKOV

Jivko Jeliazkov graduated the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria and specialized in contemporary choreography at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia. He is the co-founder of the first center for contemporary dance in Bulgaria, Derida Dance Center, Vice-Chairman and co-founder of the Art Link Foundation, and Artistic Director of Derida Stage and Derida Company. In 2018, he was selected as one of the Top 20 choreographers in Europe by the largest platform for contemporary dance in Europe, Aerowaves – Dance Across Europe. His performances have been featured in Europe, America and Asia. In 2017, he won the Bulgarian national IKAR Award for the contemporary dance performance “S INNER”. Together with Atanas Maev, he develops the year-long training program Dance PORT Derida, an alternative to state dance education, as well as an international residency program. He has choreographed and directed over 60 productions in the field of contemporary dance and theater and is the artistic director of numerous European projects.

Jivko is a jury member for several major national and international festivals and competitions, including the Spring Forward platform Aerowaves (for selecting the Top 20 young choreographers in Europe), Moving Balkans Top 10, ACT – Festival for Free Theater, the International Choreographic Competition Linkage, Aerowaves in Sofia Festival, Korea Dance Festival, Reedans in Romania, and others.

SIMONA TODOROVA

Simona Todorova is an artist in the field of contemporary dance and performance. She graduated from the Academy of Theatre and Film Art “Krastyo Sarafov” with a focus on “Movement Theatre – Pantomime.” In parallel with her studies at the academy, she completed the intensive one-year program for contemporary dance (Dance Port Derida) with the dance company “Derida.” From 2016 to 2021, she worked as a dancer in the company. Throughout her experience, she has collaborated with many national and international choreographers, including Silke Grabinger, Shamel Pitts, Sidra Bell, Charles Slender-White, Romain di Fazio, Saju Hari, and others.

She has participated in many festivals with different projects. In 2018, the performance “F63.9” by Derida company was selected in the Top 20 Aerowaves Platform, marking the first Bulgarian participation. In 2023, she completed a course with Kenan Dinkelmann in Flow Acrobatics, and in 2024, she made her first choreographic work with the performance “Dream Drawing,” which was selected as part of this year’s SFUMATO program.

ADREANA VASEVA

Adreana Vaseva is an 18 years old dancer from Sofia, Bulgaria. Her movement culture began with rhythmic gymnastics when she was 3 years old, then in fifth grade she entered the National School of Dance Art in Sofia. The contemporary dance completely captivated her, which led to her rejection of gymnastics a year later. She redirected my professional development solely towards dance art, started working individually for competitions with choreographers and attending workshops. The accumulation of knowledge from numerous dancers and choreographers helped her understand more about the body and enriched her movement vocabulary. She is a person who craves new knowledge and skills in the field of contemporary dance and she does everything she can to continue to develop. In 2018-2019 she played in the Nutcracker at the National Opera and Ballet of Sofia. During the years she has won several scholarships, including the Scholarship for the Intensive Summer Dance School at “ATENEO DELLA DANZA,” granted by Marco Batti at the “Magic Cup” Competition. This year she graduated from the National School of Dance Art in Sofia and now, she is joining Derida Dance Center’s team.

KALINA VALCHANOVA

My name is Kalina Valchanova, and I am an 18-year-old from Sofia, Bulgaria. A significant part of my life has been shaped by my profound passion for the arts – particularly for dance in all its forms. This passion emerged at an early age and led me to begin studying classical ballet as a child. Later, I was admitted to the National School of Dance Art in Sofia, where I was introduced to contemporary dance – a turning point in both my artistic and personal development. Seven years of intensive training in contemporary dance, classical ballet, dance composition and improvisation, as well as jazz dance, have taught me invaluable lessons, nurtured my artistic potential, and laid a strong foundation for my professional path beyond school. Throughout this period, I actively sought opportunities to deepen my education by participating in numerous workshops and dance camps alongside my formal studies. The boundless nature of contemporary dance intensifies my desire to embrace the opportunities it can offer me. For me, dance theatre represents one of the most profound and human-centered forms of artistic expression. This belief has motivated me to broaden my experience beyond academic training and engage with a variety of other dance styles, including commercial dance, hip-hop, jazz, and ladies’ style. These experiences have enriched my artistic vocabulary and strengthened my ability to adapt and express myself across different movement languages. On a professional level, I have participated in several professional dance projects and have experience working with children as an instructor of modern dance and classical ballet. This year I graduated from the National School of Dance Art in Sofia and now I am joining Derida Dance Center’s team.

DENIZ CHAKAR

My name is Deniz Chakur, I am from Sofia, Bulgaria and I’m 19 years old. My whole life I have been surrounded by musicians and artists in my family, so they inspired me to pursue arts too. I love drawing, playing the piano, and listening to music, but mostly I love dancing. At a very early age I started practicing rhythmic gymnastics then a few years later I started dancing ballet and contemporary dance and that’s when I found my passion, the thing that I cannot live without. As long as I can move my body, I am going to dance with my whole heart. This year I graduated from the National School of Dance Art in Sofia and now I am joining Derida Dance Center’s team. During my last two years in school, I was also part of the National Ballet and Opera of Sofia and performed in the Sleeping Beauty Ballet. In 2023 and 2024 I won first places in three different contemporary dance group competitions. I had also participated in Martha Graham Dance Company workshop.

IVELINA IVANOVA – VISUAL ARTISTS

Ivelina Ivanova is a Sofia-based new media artist working across animation, live visualizations, projection mapping, and interactive installations. She earned a BA in Animation from the University of Westminster in London in 2017, and her animated short films have been recognized at numerous international film and video art festivals, including Annecy International Film Festival and Pictoplasma. In 2022, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Digital Arts from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. She was a nominee for the BAZA Award for Contemporary Art in 2023. Actively developing her own artistic practice, Ivanova participates in solo and group exhibitions, as well as art festivals, locally and internationally. Her upcoming shows in 2025 include the Venice Biennale of Architecture and Ars Electronica. She also collaborates with musicians, directors, and performers on multimedia performances and has worked closely with Derida Dance Center on a series of contemporary dance projects in recent years. Between 2018 and 2024, she was part of Phormatik Visual Lab, a studio for digital art and immersive experiences.

IVAN SHOPOV

Ivan Shopov is a multifaceted artist—painter, musician, composer, and innovator. With an MA in Graphics from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, he has held eight solo exhibitions and frequently designs artwork for his and others’ projects in the electronic scene.

A prominent figure in European electronic music, Ivan has over 250 releases across genres like drum and bass, ambient, jazz, techno, and classical. He’s released 120+ vinyls through major labels and runs two of his own: Etheraudio Records and ABCD.

Ivan composes for contemporary dance, film, and theater, with credits including Speculators (2022) and Vaklush (2023), and over 25 dance pieces—one of which won the “Ikar” award in 2017. His soundpacks are widely used in electronic music production.

Known for blending Bulgarian folklore with electronic and jazz music, his standout projects include ELATE (with Trigaida), Kanatitsa (with Avigeya), InFusion (with Theodosii Spassov), Kuker, and Orenda (with Бalkansky).

A dedicated educator, Ivan has been teaching sound design at the National Academy of Arts since 2016 and offers workshops and courses worldwide. With 20+ years of experience, he also works as a mixing/mastering engineer.

His music has reached audiences across Europe, the USA, South America, Russia, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

DERIDA DANCE CENTER

Derida Dance Center is the first center for contemporary dance and education in Bulgaria, founded in 2010, and functioning through Art Link Foundation. The main areas of focus at Derida Dance Center include independent dance productions, educational and training programs for contemporary dance, international partnerships, residency programs, annual international contemporary dance festival, presentations and curatorial activities. The center offers a wide range of activities aimed at fulfilling the organization’s goals:

–          Development of the contemporary dance scene in Bulgaria;

–          Support for Bulgarian and international artists through production activities, educational initiatives, and residency programs;

–          Curating and organizing diverse cultural events in the field of contemporary dance at DERIDA Stage;

–          Programs for the development of new audiences.

The Art Link Foundation maintains its own performance venue – Derida Stage. It is located at 32 Tsar Samuil Street, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria.

Derida Stage is an independent space for contemporary art and culture with a focus on contemporary dance, existing since April 19, 2019.

The organization is running numerous national and European projects and is part of many prestigious international networks as European Dance Development Network, Aerowaves – dance across Europe, Moving Balkans Contemporary Dance Platform, etc.

https://derida.eu/