Cleveland Dance Fest 2026

BEFORE NOVEMBER 11TH

• Email Megan at cdf@themovementproject.org

FESTIVAL WEEKEND (STARTING NOVEMBER 11TH)

• Text or Call: CDF Staff - Kailey Fraer (724) 355-8535

• Please do not email, phone only during festival weekend. Thank you!

For all participating artists who pre-opted in to the Cleveland Dance Fest 2026 What's App group messaging, please be sure to accept your invitation before the festival weekend.

The What's App group will be used for sending updates & important info throughout the weekend, as well as a great way to connect with fellow CDF artists throughout the weekend!

**Want to join the group? Text CDF staff member Kailey Fraer at (724) 355-8535, requesting to join the group.

LOCATION

**PLAYHOUSE SQUARE MAP - How to park/enter/locate Idea Center at Playhouse Square**

Main Entrance for Guests & Artists: Playhouse Square, 1375 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115

• How to Enter (Main Entrance): Idea Center at Playhouse Square (Front entrance off of Euclid Ave., under the chandelier)

Additional Entrance for TMP Staff & CDF Artists ONLY: 1410 Dodge Ct, Cleveland, Ohio 44114

• How to Enter (Additional Entrance): Back entrance to the Idea Center (closer option for those parking in the back of the building (artists only)

PERFORMANCES

• Idea Center in the Westfield Studio Theatre

MASTER CLASSES

• Idea Center in the Gund Dance Studio

PARKING

• Lot & Garage Parking (Playhouse Square has compiled a map for public parking options at and near Playhouse Square - HERE)

TMP has put together a list of local airbnb’s, hotels, food, coffee shops for artists. Please let us know if you have any questions.

• LODGING & FOOD NEAR CDF

Click links below:

• TECH SCHEDULE & PRODUCTION INFO

• PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

• FULL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

CHECK-IN

• Once you enter the Idea Center at Playhouse Square (1375 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio 44115) make your way to the Gund Dance Studio.

  • Main Entrance (Guests & Artists): If entering from here, the studio can be seen from the street (right under the chandelier). 1375 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio 44115

  • CDF Artists & Staff Entrance: If entering from the back of the building, you will enter through the door next to a security booth. Let them know you are an artists with Cleveland Dance Fest. They will buzz you in. Walk down the entire hall (alongside NPR/PBS studios). When you get to the end take a right and go up 1 floor either using elevator or stairs.

• TMP will have a table located right outside the studio for check-in.

MASTER CLASS LOCATION

• Gund Dance Studio - located on the 1st floor of the Idea Center at Playhouse Square

SOUND

• Bluetooth & aux hookup (adapter will be provided for iphone hook up)

• You must provide your own device for playing sound for your class (we recommend bringing needed adaptors just in case)

CLASS SIZE & SPACE

• Large Studio with plenty of space. (mirrors, windows, ballet barres)

• Pro: Can expect 20 - 40 dancers.

• Youth: Can expect around 75 dancers each class (Please be sure to accommodate the large number of students. Multiple groups, spacing…) We will also provide a headset microphone to help with volume communication with dancers.

DANCERS EXITING & ENTERING

• Please note that tech rehearsals will be taking place during master classes. We have let artists know that once they have completed their tech time on stage, they may head over to take master classes. Teaching artists, be mindful that CDF artists may be entering classes late. Please welcome dancers in when they arrive. Thank you!

MASTER CLASS SCHEDULES

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13TH

• PROFESSIONAL MASTER CLASSES

  • Finding your center (of mass)

    • 11:30 am - 12:45 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Elliot Reza Emadian

  • Rock Solid - Weight Sharing and Balance

    • 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Joel K. Linebach & Bird Thurman

  • Chinese-Contemporary Moves

    • 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Zihao Yuan

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8TH

• PROFESSIONAL MASTER CLASSES

  • Contemporary Improvisation

    • 9:00 am - 10:15 am

    • Teaching Artist: Miranda Nichols Braseth

  • Modern & Contemporary Dance Forms

    • 10:30 am - 11:45 am

    • Teaching Artist: Lucy Vurusic Riner with RE|dance group

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH

• YOUTH MASTER CLASSES (1:00 - 3:00 pm & 3:00 - 5:00 pm)

  • Group A

    • House

    • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Madison Burris

  • Group A

    • Contemporary

    • 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Melissa Ajayi

  • Group B

    • Contemporary

    • 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Melissa Ajayi

  • Group B

    • House

    • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

    • Teaching Artist: Madison Burris

• All artist compensation will be mailed via check & postmarked to CDF artists no later than Monday November 16th.

• PROFESSIONAL FOOTAGE

  • Digital footage & photos of your piece will be emailed to you by mid-January 2027. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST TO RECEIVE FOOTAGE BEFORE THAT TIME. There are a large number of works at CDF and it takes our videographer a few months to edit all the footage, put in credit info, and finalize each video.

Throughout the festival weekend, we encourage CDF Artists and Casts members to attend each others performances. There is nothing better than sharing this weekend with your fellow CDF artists.

• CDF Artist Discount Tickets

  • All CDF lead artists and their performing casts can purchase tickets at $12/ticket to attend Shows 1-4.

    • 1 ticket for each show you are not performing in.

    • IMPORTANT: Any lead artist or cast member using the CDF12 discount OR purchasing at the door, must present their CDF Artist Lanyard at Will Call on the day of the performance. Your lanyard serves as verification that you are a participating CDF artist and will be required for Playhouse Square to release your discounted ticket.

      • For Online Purchase: Use discount code: CDF12

      • For Purchasing Tickets at the Door: Show your CDF Lanyard to receive the discount price of $12.

      **Please keep this code within your CDF cast. It is intended specifically for CDF lead artists and performers to attend and support one another’s work and should not be shared with friends, family, or the general public.

FREE MASTER CLASSES

• We’re excited to offer 5 free master classes to both CDF artists and the public! Classes will be taught by CDF artists and held in the beautiful Gund Dance Studio at Playhouse Square (Friday–Saturday). We encourage your cast to attend at least one!

• Visit the WEBSITE HERE for class descriptions.

• Drop-in’s Welcome!

FREE ARTIST PANEL

• Saturday, November 14th (1:00 - 2:00 pm) in the Gund Dance Studio.

  • Making Dance in Ohio: Different Models, Shared Landscape

    • A panel discussion with dance artists from across Ohio exploring the different ways they structure their artistic practices. From training and rehearsal to creative process, organizational models, and producing work, panelists will share how they have built distinct approaches to making and sustaining dance within the same statewide landscape.

  • Artist Panel: Dominic Moore-Dunson, Alisha Jihn, Sarah Ramey | Perennial Movement Group, Melissa Ajayi | Ajayi Dance, Elliot Reza Emadian, Megan L. Gargano | The Movement Project

  *The panel is free and open to the public.

GUND DANCE STUDIO SCHEDULE

• Below you will find the schedule for the Gund Dance Studio, including open studio times where artists can access the studio for warming-up prior to shows and rehearsing.

• Schedule will be posted on the studio door.

• Note for Open Studio Time: This is a shared space. Please be mindful of fellow artists.

  • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH

    • 9:00 - 11:00 am

    • 2:45 - 3:45 pm

    • 5:30 - 9:30 pm

  • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH

    • 2:00 - 9:30 pm

PRE-ORDERED CDF MERCH

• For artists who pre-ordered their CDF Merch, you can pick those up during your check-in at tech.

CDF MERCH AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND

Find us in the lobby throughout the festival weekend to purchase your CDF merch!

• $25 - CDF Tank 

• $12 - CDF Canvas Tote Bag

• $5 - Limited Edition 10th Anniversary CDF Pin from last year (While supplies last!)

• $35 - CDF Merch Bundle (Tank+Bag+Pin) - save $7!