March 1st, 2026 - Applications Open

April 6th, 2026 by 11:00 pm - Applications Due**

• Professional Concert Series

• Commissioned Artists

• Dance on Film

April 6th - April 22nd, 2026 - Adjudication of Applications

April 27th, 2026 - Notification of Application Status

• Professional Concert Series

• Commissioned Artists

• Dance on Film

May 4th, 2026 - Accept/Decline of Offer Due

May 8th, 2026 - Signed Contract Due

September 16th, 2026 - Applications Due**

• Youth Showcase

September 21st, 2026 - Notification of Application Status

• Youth Showcase

September 25th, 2026 - Accept/Decline of Offer Due

Applicant Check-List - Is this the right application type for you?

• Submissions for completed works. (All works must be completed at time of submission.)

• Applicants: Artists at all stages of their professional career are welcome to apply. (including independent dance artists, dance companies, grad students, college/undergraduate students and emerging artists.)

• Submission Requirements: (Solo, Small Group, Large Group) Completed works between 5-10 minutes. (Excerpts from larger works accepted.) If you have questions in regards to the length of your work, please inquire at cdf@themovementproject.org.

Submission Guidelines & Qualifications

• WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: We are looking for artists producing work that explores the boundaries of dance composition, challenges perspectives, is diverse in thought/action and is reflective of themselves and people in their community. We encourage artists to submit work that is challenging, explores complex topics, experimental, is relevant and shows a strong understanding of dance composition.

• WHO CAN APPLY: Northeast Ohio artists, artists throughout U.S. and international artists are welcome to apply.

  • All applicants, including casts, must be professional or collegiate dancers 18 years or older to apply and perform at CDF, no exceptions.

  • *CDF's mission is to provide support and a platform for artists who work, live or have a strong connection to Cleveland and the surrounding Northeast Ohio community. We do accept applications for those who reside outside of NE Ohio or the state, but do note that the majority of artists selected will be from the area.

• HOW WE SELECT WORKS: Applications are reviewed by the CDF Adjudication Panel, which includes members of The Movement Project and prominent dance artists in the NE Ohio dance community and beyond. TMP is dedicated to providing an adjudication process that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The individuals of our board represent a wide range of communities, demographics, and cultures.

• PERFORMANCE DATES: Selected works will perform in 1 of the 4 professional concert series performances.

• WHEN SELECTIONS ARE MADE: Artists will be notified by April 27th on their application status.

Applicant Check-List - Is this the right application type for you?

• Submissions for Northeast Ohio artists interested in creating a new work to perform as a commissioned artist at Cleveland Dance Fest should apply here.

• Cast: Selected commissioned artists are responsible for securing cast/dancers.

• Applicants: Northeast Ohio Artists at all stages of their professional career are welcome to apply. (including college/undergraduate students)

• NOTE: This application is intended for Northeast Ohio artists, as selected artists would be utilizing free studio time and a choreographic mentorship with TMP. Those who reside outside of NE Ohio or do not plan to use all 20 free rehearsal hours, do not qualify for this application type (please apply via the professional concert series app).

• Submission Requirements: (Solo, Small Group, Large Group) Applicants must provide a description of their proposed work and three samples of past completed works.

Submission Guidelines & Qualifications

• WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: We are looking for artists producing work that explores the boundaries of dance composition, challenges perspectives, is diverse in thought/action and is reflective of themselves and people in their community. We encourage artists to submit work that is challenging, explores complex topics, experimental, is relevant and shows a strong understanding of dance composition.

• WHO CAN APPLY: Northeast Ohio artists who live and work within Northeast Ohio.

  • All applicants, including casts, must be professional or collegiate dancers 18 years or older to apply and perform at CDF, no exceptions.

• HOW WE SELECT WORKS: Applications are reviewed by the CDF Adjudication Panel, which includes members of The Movement Project and prominent dance artists in the NE Ohio dance community and beyond. TMP is dedicated to providing an adjudication process that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The individuals of our board represent a wide range of communities, demographics, and cultures.

• PERFORMANCE DATES: Selected works will perform in 1 of the 4 professional concert series performances.

• WHEN SELECTIONS ARE MADE: Artists will be notified by April 27th on their application status.

Applicant Check-List - Is this the right application type for you?

• Submissions for dance films.

• Applicants: All artists over 18 from any state or country! This is an opportunity for artists around the world to create and share their work via our virtual dance film gallery. (All applicants, including casts, must be 18 years or older.)

• Submission Requirements: Completed dance films at time of submission.

Submission Guidelines & Qualifications

• WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: We encourage artists to submit work that is challenging, explores complex topics, is relevant and shows a strong understanding of dance composition for film.

• WHO CAN APPLY: All artists over 18 from any state or country!

  • This is an opportunity for artists around the world to create and share their work via our virtual dance film gallery.

• HOW WE SELECT WORKS: Applications are reviewed by the CDF Adjudication Panel, which includes members of The Movement Project and prominent dance artists in the NE Ohio dance community. TMP is dedicated to providing an adjudication process that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The individuals of our board represent a wide range of communities, demographics, and cultures.

• WHEN SELECTIONS ARE MADE: Artists will be notified by April 27th on their application status.

Applicant Check-List - Is this the right application type for you?

• Submissions for youth dance ensembles.

• Applicants: Submissions for the youth showcase must be made under 1 studio/school name. Each studio/school can submit up to 2 pieces.

  • If you are a teacher or student looking to submit, please check with your studio to see if they are submitting an application. If so, you will need to submit under their name to ensure that no more than 1 application is submitted per studio/school.

• Submission Requirements: At time of submission, works do not need to be completed.

• We will accept one of the following options:

1. Footage of completed work(s) you would like to perform at CDF. (must not exceed 5 minutes, excerpts accepted.)

2. Work sample of another work (not the piece you intend to perform, but a work sample of a completed work for our reference.)

• If selected to perform at CDF, all participating artists will be required to submit footage of their final piece by October 26th, 2026. Final cast names must be submitted by October 5th, 2026

Submission Guidelines & Qualifications

• WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: Cleveland Dance Fest is looking for concert dance pieces in the following styles/forms: modern/contemporary dance, ballet, pointe, Indian, African, or any other cultural & traditional dance forms.

  • Small Group Piece: 2-5 dancers

  • Large Group Piece: 6+ dancers

    • *We are not accepting any solo applications or tap pieces. (If you have a question regarding your piece, please email us at cdf@themovementproject.org)

• WHO CAN APPLY: This application is for youth dance ensembles ages 12 -18 years old. All dancers performing must be between 12 - 18 years old, no exceptions.

  • If at time of submission a dancer is a senior in high school and will be a freshman in college at the time of performance, they qualify to perform at CDF in the Youth Showcase

• HOW WE SELECT WORKS: Applications are reviewed by the CDF Adjudication Panel, which includes members of The Movement Project and prominent dance artists in the NE Ohio dance community. TMP is dedicated to providing an adjudication process that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The individuals of our board represent a wide range of communities, demographics and cultures.

• WHEN SELECTIONS ARE MADE: Artists will be notified by September 21st on their application status.

*All schedule & pricing information subject to change.

SCHEDULE

• Friday, November 13th

  • Pro Master Classes - Session 1

    • 11:00 am - 4:30 pm

  • Professional Concert Series - Show 1 at 7:30 pm

• Saturday, November 14th

  • Pro Master Classes - Session 2

    • 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • Artist Panel Discussion

    • 1:00 - 1:45 pm

  • Professional Concert Series - Show 2 at 3:00 pm

  • Professional Concert Series - Show 3 at 5:00 pm

  • Professional Concert Series - Show 4 at 8:00 pm

• Sunday, November 15th

  • Tech Group A

    • 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • Tech Group B

    • 1:00 - 3:00 pm

  • Youth Master Classes - Group A

    • 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

  • Youth Master Classes - Group B

    • 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

  • Youth Showcase Show 1 at 4:30 pm

  • Youth Showcase Show 2 at 6:30 pm

FESTIVAL PRICING

*Subject to change.

• Professional Concert Series (Shows 1 - 4) & Youth Showcase Tickets

  • $14 - $30 (Price points for youth, seniors, advanced/door sales.)

• Professional Master Classes

  • Free & Open to the public!

• Youth Master Classes

  • Free & Open to the public!

• Virtual Dance Film Gallery

  • FREE - included in all ticket purchases

FESTIVAL LOCATION

• CDF 2026 will be held at Playhouse Square!

• Performances will be located at the Idea Center in the Westfield Studio Theatre.

• Master classes will take place at the Idea Center in the Gund Dance Studio.

• July 12th, 2026

  • 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST - VIRTUAL CONFERENCE CALL (MANDATORY)

    • one person from your group must attend this meeting, no exceptions.

• September 1st, 2026

  • FULL CAST LISTS DUE

• October 19th, 2026

  • REHEARSAL FOOTAGE OF WORK WITH FULL CAST DUE

    • Commissioned Artists Footage due November 2nd.

• November 12th, 13th, 14th, 2026

  • PROFESSIONAL CONCERT SERIES MANDATORY TECH REHEARSALS

    • Thursday, November 12th, 2026 (1:00 - 8:00 pm)

      • Local Artists (Tech Times - specific times TBD)

    • Friday, November 13th, 2026 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm)

      • Local & Out-of-Town Artists (Tech Times - specific times TBD)

    • Saturday, November 14th, 2026 (9:00 am - 12:00 pm)

      • Out-of-Town Artists (Tech Times - specific times TBD)

  • Each artist/group will be assigned a 2 hour time slot. Within those 2 hours, 4-5 pieces will tech with lights/sound (each group receiving 15 - 30 minutes on stage)

  • Artists will be assigned a specific tech during the mandatory virtual conference call, this way artists can plan their schedule around the time they are required to be in the theater. Requests for time slots will not be accepted, as we cannot accommodate each artist.

  • All cast members must be present at tech rehearsal - no exceptions. Failure to clear your scheduled tech time with your entire cast may result in removal from the concert. Please communicate this with your casts as soon as your time is scheduled so that artists have plenty of time to adjust schedules.

*specific times above subject to change. Note: Additional due dates will be indicated in your contracts for program info, marketing materials, ticket sales, ect…)

• September 27th, 2026

  • 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST - VIRTUAL CONFERENCE CALL (MANDATORY)

    • one person from your group must attend this meeting, no exceptions.

• October 5th, 2026

  • FULL CAST LISTS DUE

• November 2nd, 2026

  • REHEARSAL FOOTAGE OF WORK WITH FULL CAST DUE

• November 13th, 14th, 15th, 2026

  • CLEVELAND DANCE FEST 2026

• November 15th, 2026 (Sunday)

  • Schedule (9:00 am - 7:30 pm)

  • Includes: Master classes, tech rehearsal, lunch/dinner breaks, 2 concerts.

    • all students are required to attend the entire Sunday schedule, including tech rehearsal.

      • Students will have the opportunity to watch tech so they can see each other’s pieces!

      • Groups will be assigned a specific tech time during the mandatory virtual conference call.

*specific times above subject to change. Note: Additional due dates will be indicated in your contracts for program info, marketing materials, ticket sales, ect…)