Organizer Information
Tanztage Berlin (Berlin Dance Days), established in 1996, operates as a premier production platform and a major entry point into Berlin’s independent contemporary dance and performance ecosystem. Hosted annually at the historic Sophiensæle venue, the festival is renowned for fostering artistic risk, championing experimental structures, and presenting genre-crossing works that challenge conventional choreographic narratives. The 2027 edition marks an important milestone as the final cycle under the artistic direction of curator Mateusz Szymanówka. Currently, the institutional team is undergoing a structural transformation toward deeper inclusivity, anti-discrimination, and a critical examination of power dynamics within cultural production.
Title & Description
Tanztage Berlin Open Call 2027.
The festival is officially accepting applications from up-and-coming choreographers, performance makers, and interdisciplinary newcomers. Built to accommodate choreographic work that exceeds traditional theater presentation models, the platform welcomes projects working across traditional stage settings, long-duration performances, installations, online mediums, and video formats. Most performances during the festival are curated and presented as double bills.
THE TWO CHOREOGRAPHIC STRATEGIES
The program divides applicant entries into two distinct operational tracks based on production status:
Track 1: Premieres (Module 1)
Designed for new productions that will make their formal debut during the festival run.
- Production Subsidy: A tier-based financial injection between €10,000 and €18,000, calculated in relation to personnel costs and the number of project participants.
- Performance Evening Fee: A flat payment of €410 gross per person, per performance night for active contributors supervising the live show (including choreographers, dancers, performers, and light/sound designers).
- Rehearsal Facilities: Approximately 2 weeks of free external rehearsal space allocated systematically between November 16 and December 18, 2026.
- Dramaturgical Mentorship: Dedicated artistic support during the creation phase provided by professional junior dramaturges.
Track 2: Revivals (Module 2)
Tailored to completed, existing productions seeking a renewed public presentation in Berlin.
- Implementation Subsidy: A flat fee of €5,000 to fund revival rehearsal overheads and regional implementation.
- Performance Evening Fee: A flat payment of €410 gross per person, per performance night for the active collaborators executing the live production (choreographers, dancers, light, and sound operators).
Categories
Performing Arts / Contemporary Dance
Eligibility
- Geographic Imperative: Open to emerging artists, choreographic newcomers, and practitioners newly arrived in the city who maintain a broad professional connection to the independent Berlin art scene. Formal residency registration documents are not explicitly required, but a meaningful tie to Berlin's creative sector must be apparent.
- Diverse Inclusivity: The panel highly encourages applications from disabled and non-disabled practitioners, creators highlighting marginalized perspectives, and projects featuring diverse, age-spanning, or intergenerational casts.
- Submission Boundary: Individuals, companies, or collectives are strictly limited to submitting one (1) application per module. Double applications within the same track will fail initial evaluation metrics.
- Lover of Risks: Works must show strong choreographic clarity and structural realism; proposals must demonstrate how the project will realistically navigate scheduling, stage setups, and final technical dress rehearsals.
Fees & Funding Limits
- Application Fee: None (Completely free to apply).
- Unpaid Labor Allowance: To honor the unpaid labor wrapped up in application forms, a small token of appreciation consisting of a €100 gross stipend will be paid to every tenth applicant who submits a complete portfolio but is not selected for final programming. Opt-in consent is required via the application form.
- Financial Exclusions: Travel costs, international transit, and hotel accommodations for incoming crew are not covered, except in rare, justified exceptional cases.
How to Apply?
Download the official interactive document layer, fill in the text lines tracking your technical staging and participant numbers, and email the finalized form package directly to the review desk. Download the Tanztage Berlin 2027 Application Form.
Key Dates
- Application Submission Deadline: Sunday, July 5, 2026.
- Curator Zoom Open Office Hours: Running throughout May and June 2026 via direct booking slots.
- Live Info Session: June 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM (A live-subtitled bilingual event with curator Mateusz Szymanówka and production manager Francesca Spisto).
- Final Decision Notifications: Expected by the end of September 2026 (Subject to formal funding confirmations).
- Active Festival Run Block: January 7 – January 23, 2027.
Location
Germany, Berlin (Sophiensæle, Sophienstraße 18, 10178 Berlin; featuring performances mapped across the Ballroom, Wedding Hall, and Canteen spaces).
Additional Details
The selection process is led by internal curatorial panels who evaluate proposals based on choreographic clarity, artistic risk, and technical feasibility within a fast-paced festival environment. BIPoC and disabled creators are welcome to address their personal perspective and access requirements inside the text block, though it is not a mandatory criteria. While artists retain absolute creative freedom over the thematic contours of their work, they are encouraged to update the desk regarding upcoming open rehearsals or preview showcases by emailing the administration directly.