Organizer Information
Aerowaves is one of Europe’s most respected contemporary dance networks, dedicated to identifying and supporting emerging choreographers and dance makers across the continent. Established in 1996, the platform connects a large network of festival directors, programmers, venues, and dance institutions from numerous European countries. Aerowaves operates as a collaborative initiative that promotes cross-border circulation of contemporary dance works and helps artists gain international visibility through touring opportunities, networking, and professional exposure.
Supported by the European Union through the Creative Europe programme, Aerowaves has become a key platform for discovering innovative contemporary dance talent. Every year, the network selects a group of outstanding choreographic works known as the “Aerowaves Twenty,” presenting them to programmers and audiences across Europe. The platform is especially recognized for helping early-career and emerging choreographers build sustainable international careers by facilitating connections with presenters, festivals, and cultural institutions.
Aerowaves also organizes the renowned Spring Forward Festival, an annual international contemporary dance festival showcasing selected artists and performances. Through this ecosystem, artists gain access not only to visibility but also to future touring and co-presentation opportunities across Europe.
Title & Description
Aerowaves Twenty 2027 Open Call for Contemporary Dance Artists
Aerowaves is inviting applications from contemporary dance choreographers and companies based in geographical Europe for the Aerowaves Twenty 2027 selection program. This international opportunity supports emerging dance artists by connecting them with an extensive European network of presenters, programmers, festivals, and performance venues.
Selected artists will become part of the prestigious “Aerowaves Twenty,” a curated group of twenty promising contemporary dance works chosen annually by Aerowaves partners. The selected works receive year-long promotion through Aerowaves’ platforms and may also be invited to present at the internationally recognized Spring Forward Festival 2027.
The program is designed for finished contemporary dance works that demonstrate artistic originality, touring potential, and strong choreographic vision. Aerowaves particularly encourages concise, tour-ready productions with flexible technical requirements that can easily fit into double or triple performance bills. Both indoor and outdoor works, including performances created for unconventional or public spaces, are welcome.
Beyond the final selection, all applicants benefit from visibility within the Aerowaves network, as partner organizations may independently program submitted works regardless of whether they are officially selected for the Aerowaves Twenty. Approximately 100 performance opportunities are supported by Aerowaves partners each year.
The platform offers emerging choreographers an important gateway into the European dance landscape, enabling professional recognition, touring opportunities, and international collaboration.
Categories
- Contemporary Dance
- Performance Art
- Choreography
- Live Performance
- Experimental Dance
- Site-Specific Performance
- Outdoor Performance
- Interdisciplinary Performing Arts
Eligibility
- Open to artists and companies residing in geographical Europe.
- Applicants from both EU and non-EU European countries are eligible, including the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, and other European territories.
- Due to current restrictions, works made in Russia and Belarus are not eligible.
- Applicants may submit only one work per year.
- The submitted work must have been produced in geographical Europe.
- Works must be between 15 and 40 minutes in duration.
- Only completed works that have already been publicly presented are eligible.
- Works in progress are not accepted.
- The same work cannot be submitted more than once in different years.
- Applicants currently enrolled in professional dance training programs (BA, MA, etc.) are not eligible to apply with student works unless the work has subsequently been professionally presented after graduation.
- Works should have relatively simple technical requirements and be adaptable for touring.
- Outdoor and non-conventional performance formats are welcome.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected artists receive a wide range of professional development and promotional benefits, including:
- Selection as one of the prestigious Aerowaves Twenty artists.
- International exposure through the Aerowaves website and partner network.
- Artist profile publication including biography, images, videos, and press materials.
- Promotion of upcoming performances through Aerowaves communication channels and social media.
- Access to a Europe-wide network of presenters, programmers, and festivals.
- Eligibility for presentation at the Spring Forward Festival 2027.
- Potential touring and booking opportunities through Aerowaves partners.
- Around 100 performance opportunities are facilitated annually across the network.
- If selected for Spring Forward, participating artists receive:
- Performance fee
- Accommodation
- Travel support (within Europe)
- Hospitality/per diem support for team members
Artists are responsible for negotiating fees and conditions for additional partner bookings independently.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed Aerowaves application form
- Video documentation of the submitted work
- Vimeo or YouTube link to the performance
- Downloadable video file (under 2GB)
- Work description (maximum 100 words, in English)
- Artist or company biography (maximum 100 words, in English)
- Full performance credits
- Password for private video links if applicable
Video Requirements:
- Full-length recording of the submitted work
- Public performance documentation only
- Promotional trailers or dance films are not accepted
- HD quality preferred
- File size must remain under 2GB
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 July 2026
- Aerowaves Annual Meeting: 18–21 October 2026
- Review Period Ends: End of October 2026
- Final Selection Confirmation: Following the partners' meeting in October 2026
- Notification of Selected Artists: Mid-November 2026
Location
Ireland
Additional Details
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit materials early to avoid technical issues. Aerowaves emphasizes the importance of high-quality documentation, as the selection process is primarily based on video review.
Artists should ensure that all texts are clearly written in English and suitable for publication. The work description should function as professional promotional copy, while the biography should clearly present the artist’s trajectory and achievements.
Aerowaves recommends using simple but professionally filmed documentation featuring both close-up and wide shots in order to best represent the choreography and stage dynamics.
Artists who are not selected are encouraged to apply again in future years with a different work, as repeated visibility within the network can help build long-term recognition among European programmers and presenters.
Please note that artists may only be selected for presentation at Spring Forward a maximum of two times during their career within the Aerowaves platform.
Non-European passport holders must independently ensure that they possess the necessary visas or work permits required for participation in performances and touring activities within Europe.