With an MA from the Latvian Academy of Culture in Theory of Culture Inta Balode (Latvia) is one of the few Latvian dance writers and researchers.  She is writing for the daily paper NRA, covered dance in the weekly culture paper Kult_ras forums (got closed at the end of 2010), writes for the music magazine M_zikas saule, also occasionally writes about theatre. Inta wrote a text about dance in Latvia for recently published book “Theater in Latvia” (2012). In 2011 she initiated on-line magazine for contemporary dance www.journal.dance.lv, which currently is the only regular publication for dance (both ballet and contemporary).

Inta's relationship with the contemporary dance community started in 2003 through “helping friends”, i.e., doing project management for Olga Zitluhina Dance Company and The Latvian Association of Professional Contemporary Dance Choreographers (www.dance.lv). Inta coordinated Allyson Green’s Suitcase Fund in Riga Latvia in 2008 and ArtsLink residency in 2006; she has worked on bringing over to Latvia also other US choreographers (Tere O’Connor, Heather Olson, Ann Liv Young, Yanira Castro, Nicholas Leichter, Lily Skove, Jan Erkert etc.). Inta has acquired training in dance writing and management at the Dance Theater Workshop in New York, during residencies at the Ohio State University and University of California San Diego with Allyson Green (CEC ArtsLink fellow 2007), as well as during visits to festivals and dance organizations in Europe. Common learning through experiencing project was FIT MOBILE LAB for Theatre and Communication (www.theatre-fit.org) – program for young dance and theater critics. Fruitful experience has been working as a dramaturge, the latest work is contemporary dance piece by Olga Zitluhina Aplam (2010) at the Latvian National Opera. Since 2011 Inta works as a dance expert at the State Culture Capital Foundation (main arts funding instrument in Latvia). While being on panel for the Latvian theater prize for season 2011/2012, Inta managed to convince the Theater Union that the nomination for contemporary dance is needed, let’s hope it will stay there also in future. Inta took part in the first Cal-Laboratory Kitchen in 2009.  The intense, new experiences, and the Kitchen's creative spirit continues to provide inspiration on a daily basis.  Inta says, "The creative and positive spirit from that first Cal-Laboratory Kitchen has helped to provide me with the confidence to make different decisions and to explore new paths."