Creative Partnerships Program
2026 ARTISTS
We’re excited to introduce the two artists Dance Ontario’s Creative Partnerships Program is supporting this fall — premiering brand-new works at DanceWeekend’27!
Cipit by Irma Villafuerte
A contemporary dance and live-music work rooted in Salvadoran mythology. Inspired by the shapeshifting figures of Cipitío, Ciguanaba, and Cadejo, Cipit follows a child-spirit suspended between worlds — memory, myth, and transformation activated live through movement and sound.
Swallow Your Name by Aryana Malekzadeh
An intimate exploration of growing up Iranian in the diaspora, and the quiet ways we learn to hide parts of ourselves to belong. Blending Persian movement, text, and imagery, the piece is also an act of resistance, as dance remains banned in public in Iran today.
Two powerful new voices, two works-in-progress we’re honored to support. Follow along as they build toward the stage.
Previous Years
To date, choreographers commissioned through the Creative Partnerships Program include BaKari I. Lindsay, Madeleine Twyman, Nenagh Leigh, Meagan O’Shea, Terrill Maguire, Lucy Rupert, Vivine Scarlett, Jenn Goodwin, Sasha Ivanochko, Marlee Cargill, Malgorzata Nowacka, Nova Bhattacharya & Louis Laberge-Côté,Sashar Zarif & Holly Small, William Yong, Lacey Smith, Amy Hampton & Keiko Ninomiya, Jessica Westermann, Lucy Rupert & Barbara Pallamino, Pamela Rasbach, Robert Stephen, Amy Hampton & Keiko Ninomiya, Apolonia Velasquez & Ofilio Portillo, Benjamin Landsberg, Jasmyn Fyffe, Keiko Kitano, Malgorzata Nowacka with James Croker & Jack Langenhuizen, Natasha Powell, Courtnae Bowman, Hanna Kiel, Louis Laberge Cote, Jacob Niedszwiecki, Alyssa Martin, Ryan Lee, Shameka Blake, Riley Sims, Makeda Benitez and Decades Collective, Tracey Norman and Maddie Hanson, Rodney Diverlus, Matthew Cuff, Patrick Parson and Zachary Seto.
About
Dance Ontario’s Creative Partnership Program provides $2,000 in production/creation support plus $2,000 performance fee to each of two choreographers for NEW work to be premiered at DanceWeekend each January. Choreographers whose membership is current at the time of submission are eligible to apply. All forms of dance will be considered and two works each approximately 15 minutes in length will be selected.
Deadline: Spring/Summer each year
The Association’s Selection Committee looks for applications that :
- demonstrate excellence and professional integrity;
- bridge diverse forms and/or disciplines;
- take creative risks;
- connect with and are relevant to a broad-based audience;
- enhance the artist’s repertoire.
Interested in applying? Contact Dance Ontario.