Festival:23 | Applications Now Open!
Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2023 @ 11:59pm PST
Application Form
Open Call
Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2023 @ 11:59PM PST
push/FOLD presents the fifth annual Union PDX - Festival of Contemporary Dance!
Applications are now open worldwide for all professional artists and companies making contemporary work in ANY dance style, genre, or tradition!
Dedicated to the growth and advancement of dancers and artists, selected festival artists perform at the prestigious Hampton Opera Center, teach advanced and professional level dancers, engage with audiences through post-show Artist-Talks and Q&As, network with fellow artists, presenters, and company directors, and celebrate the art of dance.
Click Here to apply and read below learn more about eligibility, compensation, and the application process.
Questions related to the festival and application process, including becoming a festival partner, should be directed to: contact@pushfold.org.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2023 @ 11:59pm PST
- Festival Invitations: July, 2023
- Tech Rehearsal Dates: November 15 or 16, 2023 (for each group/artist)
- Performance Dates: November 16-19, 2023 (3 Public Performances, 1 Invited Dress Rehearsal)
Eligibility & Guidelines
- The festival is open to all regional, national, and international artists/groups from ANY dance style, genre, or tradition with a focus on creating contemporaneous work within their form.
- Applicants should have a demonstrated minimum three (3) years of professional choreographic experience.
- Material submitted MUST be the work that you plan to present at the festival. Rehearsal videos will be accepted.
- Each artist/group can submit a maximum of two (2) works. Each work requires a separate application.
- To be considered, ensemble work (2+ dancers) should be at a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 24 minutes in length. Solos should be between 7 - 15 minutes.
- Works in progress are accepted and considered, but the video work sample must show at least 75% of the completed work. Works still in conceptual form will not be considered.
- Improvisational works are acceptable, but must include a clear and consistent structure similar to submitted sample video. All improvised sections must be clearly outlined within your application submission.
- Applicants must own the rights to all of the music and choreography in the submission. Commissioned repertoire works from artists not with your group will not be considered.
- Submitted videos should not be edited except to show different angles/focuses from a single continuous performance. Promotional videos will not be considered.
- Nudity and strong language are acceptable, but gratuitous works will not be considered (determination of which is at the discretion of the curatorial team).
- In selecting works for consideration, please be mindful that performances will be in 3/4-round thrust configuration (audiences on three sides of the stage) with lighting coming from the grid above.
- Aerialist groups must supply their own support structure. The theater grid is 16' and is not rated for aerial anchors.
Festival Schedule
The typical schedule for the festival occurs over 4-5 days (Wednesday - Sunday). Below is an example from this past year. The specific structure for Festival:23 is TBD.
Tech Rehearsals
- Wednesday | Tech Rehearsal for push/FOLD and some groups/artists.
- Thursday | Tech Rehearsal for remaining groups/artists.
Dress Rehearsal
- Thursday | Invited Dress Rehearsal with in-person student audience.
Performances
- Friday & Saturday | 7:30pm Performance w/ post-show Artist-talks.
- Sunday | 4:00pm Performance w/ post-show Artist-talk.
Masterclasses & Workshops
- Friday & Saturday | Afternoon Masterclasses
- Sunday | Professional Development Workshops for Artists
Participant Compensation
- US-based artists: performance stipend (between $600 - $1000). The stipend is calculated from several factors including the length of the work, size of group, and travel distance.
- Non-local US-based artists: per diem will be provided for up to 4 artists for up to 5 days, in addition to the above stipend.
- International artists: housing and food will be provided up to an equivalent value of $1000.
- Non-local artists: travel to/from venue and lodging within city for performances and respective masterclasses, and travel to/from Portland International Airport (PDX).
- Professional photographs and video footage of performance.
- Professional photographs of masterclass instruction.
- Free access to all festival masterclasses and workshops.
Artists are responsible for travel to/from Portland and any applicable visas, fees, and taxes associated with performing in the United States.
Curation
A panel of professional artists representing various movement disciplines and racial, ethnic, and gender demographics review all applications.
Strong submissions will demonstrate a clarity to artistic vision, professional execution within your form, and a devotion to pushing artistic boundaries and advancing the craft of movement.
Jonathan Hsu | 2021 Union PDX Festival Artist: Evelyn Tejeda