The Eurasia Dance Society was co-founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Andrij Cybyk and Executive Director Zenia Helbig Tompkins with the goal of preserving and promulgating the traditional dance styles of the Eurasian region.  EDS includes a school system dedicated to educating and training children and youth in traditional Eurasian dance, as well as a performing ensemble, comprised of senior dancers, whose primary goal is to share traditional Eurasian dance with the community of Washington, DC and its surrounding areas.  EDS seeks to improve exposure to Eurasian dance through a series of outreach programs targeted at elementary, high school, and university students, and through concert series for both children and adults.  All of EDS’ programs are designed to promote cultural dialogue and exchange among the various peoples of Eurasia, and to promote understanding and appreciation of Eurasian cultures and peoples among Americans.

The cultural region that The Eurasia Dance Society seeks to represent stretches geographically from the Balkans in the west to Central Asia in the east, and from Russia in the north to Iran in the south.  More specifically, EDS’ mission is to eventually promote the various dance heritages of the following present-day countries: 

The Eurasia Dance Society also seeks to preserve and promote the dance heritages of cultures that have historically inhabited the Eurasian region through its Dancers Without Borders Program, to include: 

During its first year of existence (2009-2010), The Eurasia Dance Society is committing to promoting the dances of Russia and Ukraine, including the dances of the Russian Roma and the Crimean Tartars, both through its school and its performing ensemble.  In the future, EDS has committed to the goal of adding at least one of the above Eurasian cultures to its teaching curriculum and performing repertoire in each subsequent year of its existence.  Cultures will prioritized by a number of factors, to include geographic and cultural diversity, communal interest and support, and availability of teaching staff and costumes.  The greater part of EDS’ energies in its first year will be devoted to the establishment of its school system and ensemble, the development of a student and audience network,  and the exploration of outreach and educational opportunities. 

The future goals of The Eurasia Dance Society include the following: 

• Establishment of a Summer Camp Series for younger dancers
• Establishment of an extended Summer Dance Intensive for senior dancers
• Introduction of Weekend Workshops throughout the year focusing on specific Eurasian dance styles for both younger and more senior dancers, taught by guest instructors
• Development of a an Instructor Certification Program for dance educators interested in promoting the traditional dance styles of Eurasia
• Development of a Eurasian Dance Curriculum for educators interested in promoting knowledge of Eurasia in their classrooms
• Sponsorship of an annual US tour for the Eurasia Dance Ensemble
• Sponsorship and implementation of summer research and travel grants for EDS Instructors and Staff to Eurasian countries
• Sponsorship and implementation of an Artist Exchange Program between dancers in the US and dancers in Eurasia
• Sponsorship of projects researching and promoting traditional Eurasian dance, to be executed by recognized experts in academia, the film industry, and the music industry
• Acquisition of an EDS Studio in Washington, DC
  

For updates on any of our ongoing efforts, please continue to visit our website or join our mailing list today.