Call for Dance Curators

Independent Dance Curators select, support and contextualize the Dancemakers programming for public sharing. Dance Curation offers an opportunity to step outside of the inner-workings of a project and locate a work/project in a bigger conversation.

(Note: Curation is a different role than self-presenting your own choreography)

Deadline Aug 15 2025


Dance Curators are encouraged to 'dream projects into being' that may not be programmed in traditional performance venues, companies or festivals. Priorities include: Site-specific projects in specific locations/settings, projects that engage with and integrate communities/audiences and projects that deeply consider the curatorial context of the work and projects that engage with a range of dance forms and traditions.

Dance Curators play a vital role in responding to larger contextual realities and urgent needs related to dance and presenting dance in Canada. We are explicitly looking to support various dance forms, performances that engage with land, social issues and that centre BIPOC voices. We are interested in curatorial projects that are clearly able to answer 'why this now'?

Each Curator will be expected to engage with audiences through a full production or a work-in-progress showing along with discussions, workshops, participatory events, community-building and/or other porous approaches that includes community interaction.

The process:

This call is open from June 30 2025 until the deadline on August 15 2025.

A Selection Committee (comprised of community members and past independent Curators) will review projects together and may choose to engage in follow up conversations if needed during the first few weeks of August.

The Guest Curators will be engaged with Dancemakers over a ten-month period:

  • a cohort orientation will happen in September

  • preparation and Dance& workshop offerings in September-December 2025

  • public sharing(s) and shows occurring in March-June 2026

Guest Curators will receive a $8,000 curatorial fee based on CADA rates.


Other things to note:

Dancemakers has a list of offerings for Guest Curators to select from in terms of supports provided for projects (such as):

  • Up to $20,000 for artist fees to actualize the project

  • Producing support from Dancemakers' Co-Artistic Producer Cara Spooner

  • Funds for Booking space, venue rentals, hiring technicians, etc

  • Accessibility supports

  • Promotion of event(s)

  • Documentation (photo, video & commissioned written document/essay)


Questions & Access:

If you have questions or experience any barriers in accessing or completing this application, please contact producer@dancemakers.org. We are open to other formats and paces and want to learn how to make these kinds of processes easier for applicants.

We will be hosting an info session on Thursday July 17 from 5:30-7:00 as part of our 'What Can Dance Curation Do?' Symposium