“Excitement, and thirst to test yourself, and the feeling that you are in a special place – you`ve come so far! (…) I will miss Lankershim Blvd. – the boulevard we walked down several times a day to reach the dance studios – a route filled with thoughts, excitement and fun”

Zdravko Kostadinov, 25 , choreographer at Groovez Community, Sofia Bulgaria

It was a dream come true, accompanied with loads of efforts and followed by many positive things! (…) I found out that in the USA and not only, you have to dance everything – you can`t just be a classical ballerina, dance is changing – it is something inevitable.

Andrea Andonova, 18 ., Graduated NUTI 

“One unforgettable adventure! My personal dream for 7 years!”

Alex A-Style Tsvetkova, 24, choreographer at DemDivas Crew

“A big THANK YOU! This scholarship gave me the chance to move… not one step, but to jump forward!”

Rositsa Terziiska, graduated АМТИИ, choreographer at “Mirage” formation – Ruse, Bulgaria 

“I think going there was very worth it. My whole body was in pain every day. I worked a lot, I was in classes and rehearsals from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., I ran to catch the train, to go to class, it was so dynamic… Now I everything seems so boring and I don`t know what to do. (…) Here, at our theaters, we are sleeping. At Ballet Chicago I finally felt I was awake.”

Viktor Denisov, professional dancer at the state music and ballet center. 

“This was undoubtedly a new and enriching experience for me. I got the incredible opportunity to get to know a new style of dance, such as jazz. It was a pleasure to try it out and understand why it is so popular and loved in the United States. The teachers also impressed me immensely. It was a true pleasure to work with everyone. The other incredible opportunity I received was immersing myself in the American culture – so completely different from the Bulgarian.”

Nikolina Karageorgieva, MA student at АМТИИ; assistant-choreographer at the Iliev Dance Art Foundation.