From April 4 to 8, 2025, the vibrant coastal town of Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava once again became a stage for the international dance competition Dance Factory, bringing together passionate dancers from around the globe.
Watch the video report of the festival on the official Fiestalonia YouTube channel.
This year’s event stood out thanks to a specially constructed stage, tailored exclusively for the festival. Equipped with modern technologies and a professional-grade stage covering, it provided the perfect environment for dancers to perform with freedom, agility, and precision — allowing them to showcase the full extent of their skills, energy, and creativity.
During the competition day, the audience was treated to more than 35 unique performances across a variety of dance genres, including:
- Modern
- Jazz
- Contemporary
- Hip-Hop
- Classical Ballet
- Sports-Inspired Street Styles
Dancers from Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey, Morocco, and Spain lit up the stage with their talent, making this edition truly international and unforgettable.
Jury member of the Dance Factory competition
- Mariam Turkmenbaeva. Professional Choreographer and dancer. Choreographer of such famous shows as Xfactor Ukraine, “Ucraine Got Talent” and “So You Think You Can Dance”. Front girl of famous band ,,Quest pistols show,,. Studied at the best dance schools in New York and Los Angeles.
- Marcos Martinez. He is a highly regarded national and international hip hop trainer, choreographer and an artist with an impressive portfolio of television shows and events.
- Ilona Stankeviciene. She is an experienced dance teacher and choreographer with 28 years in the industry. She specializes in jazz and show dance, teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre for 20 years. She also leads the Klaipėda Queen Louise Youth Center Dance Studio and organizes dance festivals in Lithuania.
- Kaloyan Nikolov. He is a Bulgarian singer and musician who began playing music at 4. A finalist on The Voice of Bulgaria in 2022, he now focuses on original music and live performances. He debuted his solo work at Sofar Sounds Plovdiv. President of European Association of Folklore Festivals.
- David Dzhaparidze. The President and founder of the Spanish festival committee Fiestalonia Milenio. Director of Fiestalonia International Center in London. Member of the jury of the most prestigious competitions in the world.
A highlight of the festival was the exclusive master class held by jury member Maria Turkmenbaeva, a renowned expert in contemporary choreography. Participants explored innovative movements, learned new techniques, and deepened their connection to dance as an expressive art form.
The Gala Concert featured the most outstanding numbers from the competition — a dazzling finale that brought together the event’s finest moments.
The Grand Prix of Dance Factory 2025 was awarded to Zona Dance Co. Ensemble from IRELAND (Teacher: Jessica Peoples | Choreographer: Daria Semonenko) for their emotionally charged and technically exquisite performance titled “Hope”.
We congratulate all participants for their exceptional work and thank them for contributing to the international spirit of Dance Factory. Until next time — keep dancing, keep dreaming!
| Zona Dance Co. Ensemble / IRELAND “Hope” | Choreographic groups and soloists | GRAND PRIX |
| Duru Elvin Morgul – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Dream” Miriam Skali – Academia de Danza ALIRA / SPAIN “Super Star” TRIO: Aoife, Grainne and Lily – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “Voila” Open Art Studio / SPAIN “Mini stars (APC)” Les Étoiles de L’Atlas / MOROCCO “Blue Night” Dawn of Faith – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “Dawn of Faith” MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Permafrost” Open Art Studio / SPAIN “Elan” | Choreographic groups and soloists | Golden diploma from 90 to 99 points |
| Miriam Skali – Academia de Danza ALIRA / SPAIN “Tarantella” Zeynep Naz Askin – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “You & Me” Karolina Vanagele – Dance studio 27 / LATVIA “Are you ready?” DUO: Agija Valdmane and Lorija Karlsone – Dance studio 27 / LATVIA “Urban cheer” DUO: Emma and Robyn – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “Deep End” DUO: Mira Ozalp, Ezgi Ozmen – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Sweet Dream” DUO: Miray Ucarer, Yagmur Melis Orkan – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Feeling” DUO: Duru Elvin Morgul, Zeynep Naz Askin – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Dark” DUO: Ayda Atay, Mira Ozalp – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Red Boots” TRIO: Gunita Lukjanska, Sofija Pakse and Ance Setkovska – Dance studio 27 / LATVIA “We love dance!” TRIO: Avery, Cassie and Joana – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “Pas de Trois” QUARTET Alisa Jasaite, Megija Paula Pusmere, Alise Onzule and Emilija Pusmere – Dance studio 27 / LATVIA “It’s us!” MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Deep” Open Art Studio / SPAIN “InMotion” Surprise-FOL-Casablanca / MOROCCO “Bouffons” MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Power” Pulcherie Dance / TÜRKIYE “The Dance of Turkish Delights” El Tango de Roxanne – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “Jazz” | Choreographic groups and soloists | Silver diploma from 80 to 89 points |
| Cassie McKinney – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “The Awakening Of Flora” Ezgi Ozmen – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Memory” Ceylin Simsek – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Don´t Give Up” DUO: Ayda Atay, Mercan Gol – MAVIDANS AKADEMI TEAM / TÜRKIYE “Black” DUO: Katya and Eloise – Zona Dance Company / IRELAND “Pizzicato – Léo Delibes” DUO: Anastasija Ridanova and Amelija Kalve – Dance studio 27 / LATVIA “Urban cheer is alive!” | Choreographic groups and soloists | Bronze diploma from 70 to 79 points |
We thank all the participants, the jury, and the audience for creating an unforgettable atmosphere and look forward to seeing you again at the next Dance Factory competition!
Do you want to participate in the International Choreographic Contest “Dance Factory” 2026? Then follow the link and submit your application to participate!