Creative Partnerships Program

Dance Ontario is seeking two choreographers to create new works for our 2026 edition of DanceWeekend, taking place in January at Harbourfront Centre. Through the Creative Partnership Program, each selected choreographer will receive $2,000 in creation support and a $2,000 performance fee to develop and present a new dance piece approximately 15 minutes in length. Works should be in development during Fall 2025, with flexibility in format—solo, duet, or ensemble—and all dance styles are welcome.

This opportunity is open to choreographers at any career stage who are current Dance Ontario members. If you’re not yet a member, we encourage you to join at danceontario.ca/about/join

The Selection Committee will prioritize proposals that demonstrate artistic excellence and integrity, bridge disciplines or explore diverse forms, take creative risks, engage broad audiences, and meaningfully expand the artist’s repertoire.

The deadline to apply is Monday, June 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM (ET). For accessibility accommodations or to submit a video response in place of a written application, please contact: [[email protected]]

Please note: This opportunity is contingent upon receiving funding.

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.

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.