In the face of near cessation of international performances, five American dance companies in partnership with American Dance Abroad’s FOCUS:USA program will be this year’s focus at Dance Fest Skopje, North Macedonia’s only international dance festival, on September 4-5, 2020.
Originally scheduled for April 2020, Dance Fest Skopje was to celebrate the Jubilee of Dance Fest Skopje’s Founder and Artistic dance companies: Stephen Petronio Dance, TRIBE (Shamel Pitts), and Megan Bridge’s <fidget>. Within days of departures, the worldwide quarantine launched instead.
Working with North Macedonia’s public agencies and adhering to its government regulations, the Festival has re-envisioned the programming from a 10-day event to a two-day dance marathon with American companies remaining at the center of the programming. In a highly unusual and unique experiment to present dance to Macedonian audiences during the COVID pandemic, this event will take place on outdoor stages in the city with socially-distanced seating.
Artistic Director Megan Bridge of <fidget> (Philadelphia) will perform two solos – Consent and Morphic Resonance – on September 4 and 5. Christine Bonansea Company (NYC) will perform Gamer on September 5. Doug Varone and Dancers, Shamel Pitts/Tribe, and Stephen Petronion Dance will be seen on video via a state of the art video wall.
Dance Fest Skope will be live streamed via YouTube beginning at 2 p.m. EDT. The full schedule of events can be found here.
Festival Performances
While the live performances will be available via the Festival livestream the pre-recorded videos by Doug Varone & Dancers, Shamel Pitts/Tribe, and Stephen Petronio Dance will only be accessible here through Monday, September 7, 2020.
National Menada Award
Acknowledging the importance of American Dance, the Council of Dance Fest Skopje has awarded the National Menada Award to Joan Myers Brown, artistic director of Philadanco, for exceptional lifetime achievements in the field of dance.
Tales from Dance Fest
Follow along with Megan Bridge, Artistic Director of <fidget>, as she travels to North Macedonia to perform live at Dance Fest Skopje.
Jubilee Year
Risima Risimki is celebrating her Jubilee year with Dance Fest Skopje. Choreographers from across the country have come together to send their congratulations all the way to North Macedonia.
American Dance Abroad 