OPEN CALL: Dance. Context. Showcase
If you have a performance piece that moves (us) and you want your work to be seen by dance professionals and representatives of the most important international and national dance networks, then apply!
The National Centre for Dance Bucharest is launching an open call within the Dance.Context.Showcase project and is addressed to artists working in the field of contemporary dance and graduates of specialized master studies. The project aims to present the choreographic creation of recent years, the Romanian dance scene, as well as to strengthen a national network of dance festivals and performing arts institutions in Romania that promote contemporary dance, in order to develop opportunities for the dissemination of dance performances.
We support brave ideas and innovative artistic approaches, we encourage the diversity of choreographic discourses, aesthetic forms and presentation formats (shows/performances created for black box or in alternative spaces, public spaces, galleries, one-on-one, performative installations, etc.).
Application deadline: January 20, 2025.
Selected works/performances will be announced on February 25, 2025.
To apply you need to send:
- a link to a video recording of the full work (technical specifications: close-up, 16:9, HD and ideally minimally edited; trailers will not be considered);
- a text of maximum one page, including a description of the performance, the date and place of the premiere, where and when the performance has been presented before, the duration, credits (artists, producers, partners, sponsors, etc.);
- a video with the author/author or creative collective of maximum 5 minutes answering the question “Why do you think the performance is relevant in the current artistic and social context?”;
- an artistic biography of the author/author or creative collective, including experience and creative portfolio.
All documents should be sent to the email address: .
Eligibility criteria
- applicant artists must be active in the field of contemporary dance/performance;
- performances proposed by independent artists, artistic collectives, independent or producing public institutions, as well as master’s works are taken into consideration;
- an artist can apply with only one work/artwork spectacol.
Technical selection criteria
- the work entered must be produced between 2021 and 2024, with a minimum duration of 20 min;
- the performances must be adaptable to the spaces and resources made available by the showcase organizers* (information on the technical characteristics of the two spaces can be found here). If the performances require alternative venues (museums, galleries, parks, industrial halls, etc.), the organizers can provide minimal technical support;
- the artistic and technical teams of the performances to be available between April 24-27, 2025.
Qualitative selection criteria
- relevance of the theme to contemporary realities;
- consistency of compositional structure and writing;
- clarity of artistic vision;
- the innovative character of the choreographic work;
- novelty of the choreographic language and appropriateness of the movement vocabulary to the artistic proposal
The selection of the performances will be made by a jury consisting of Cristina Lilienfeld, Sandra Mavhima, Mihai Mihalcea, Andreea Novac, Simona Paraschivu, Anna Maria Pop, Elena Zamfirescu.
Benefits:
- the opportunity to have your work seen by international and national representatives of dance institutions, festivals and networks;
- networking opportunities with other artists, but also with professionals in the field (dance producers, curators, directors of choreographic centers and festivals, etc.)
- Remuneration of the members of the artistic and technical team performing in the showcase, depending on the available budget of the project (we cover honoraria, transportation and accommodation costs, but not the production costs of the performances)
- promotion of the artistic team and the choreographic work on the social networks of the National Centre for Dance Bucharest, as well as in partner online and offline press publications.
About “Dance. Context. Showcase”
The project will take place in Bucharest, at the National Center for Dance in Bucharest and at Linotip – Independent Choreographic Center, between April 24 and 27, 2025 and will present a selection of 10-12 dance performances to a professional audience of theatre directors, choreographic centers, dance festivals, representatives of European dance networks (Aerowaves, Moving Balkans, EDN – European Dance Development Network), curators, cultural managers and dance producers, as well as to the general public. The aim of the project is to promote Romanian contemporary dance productions and co-productions (from Bucharest and other cities in the country) at both national and European level.
Organiser: The National Center for Dance Bucharest (CNDB)
Institutional partners: “Ion Luca Caragiale” National University of Theatrical and Cinematographic Art, Linotip- Independent Cinematographic Center, AREAL | space for choreographic development, “Floria Capsali” Choreography High School. Partners: Cinema Union, Cărturești
Main media partner: Radio Guerrilla
Media partners: Adevărul, Agerpress, Zile și nopți, Scena9, Elle, IQADS, Happening, Liternet, TVR Cultural, Radio Romania Cultural, Revista Arta, The Institute, Zeppelin, ISCOADA, Revista Golan, Feeder, Visit Bucharest, Ceașca de Cultură, Ziarul Metropolis, Modernism. ro, Haute Culture Magazine
“Dance. Context. Showcase” is a cultural project co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund – AFCN. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the grantee.