Call Dance Curators

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.

This call is open from June 15 to July 17, 2026.

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. Guest Curators will be engaged with Dance makers over a ten‑month period:

• attend an orientation on Friday September 18 & Saturday September 19
• preparation and literacy‑building offerings
• public sharing(s) and shows

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

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

• Up to $30,000 CAD to actualize the project
• Producing support from Dance makers’ Co‑Artistic Producer
• Support with booking space, venue rentals, hiring technicians, etc
• Accessibility supports
• Promotion of event(s)
• Documentation (photo, video & commissioned written document/essay)