The National Center for Dance Bucharest (CNDB) celebrates the third edition of Iridescent - International Festival of Contemporary Dance and Other Reconfigurations of the Sensible, a vital platform for the advancement of contemporary dance and a significant forum for addressing urgent cultural challenges in Romania.

Festival Launch & Press Conference

The festival will commence on 31 October 2024 with a press conference and guided tour at Omnia Hall, the venue intended to become the future home of CNDB and a dedicated space for contemporary dance in Romania.

Although designated to CNDB in 2016 and supported by €13.4 million in allocated funding through a partnership with the Development Bank of the Council of Europe (BDCE), Omnia Hall has faced significant delays.

At the press conference, CNDB representatives will share plans for Omnia Hall’s transformation into a choreographic center and discuss the urgent need for construction to finally begin. Invitations have been extended to both the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, offering an essential platform for these key decision-makers to address the venue’s future—a matter of utmost importance as the country approaches an election year.

Advocating for a Permanent Home for Dance in Romania

The lack of a permanent venue has posed significant challenges for CNDB since the organization lost its primary space at the National Theatre in 2011. Operating from a rented space has created an unsustainable financial burden, making the establishment of Omnia Hall essential to CNDB’s mission of cultivating and promoting contemporary dance. Omnia Hall would serve as Romania’s only dedicated center for choreographic culture, providing an invaluable resource for artists and the community.

CNDB has an irreplaceable role in Romania’s cultural landscape, and Omnia Hall represents the opportunity for the dance sector to secure a stable, permanent home.

Connecting with the Local Artistic Community

On 1 November 2024, the festival will host a special event to connect Romanian dance artists and independent collectives with international networks, fostering a deeper dialogue and exchange of ideas.

Over the past decade, the Romanian dance scene has evolved into a diverse and vibrant community of independent, artist-led projects, all essential to the cultural ecosystem. However, many artists, particularly younger creators, face challenges accessing international networks and funding opportunities.

This gathering will enable representatives from Romania’s dance collectives to connect with international guests, inviting open discussions on the future of contemporary dance in Romania.

Louise Costelloe, EDN co-president and programme producer at Dance Ireland, will attend the meeting to present the EDN network of dance development organisations in Europe and express support to CNDB in its mission to secure a permanent home for dance in Romania.

About Iridescent Festival

The Iridescent Festival serves as a landmark event for Romania’s contemporary dance sector, presenting groundbreaking performances, workshops, and discussions on the evolving role of contemporary dance. This year’s edition highlights CNDB’s enduring commitment to cultural advocacy and elevating the voices of the country’s dance community.