Deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026 at 11:59pm EST
Dusk Dances is inviting proposals for dance works to be presented at Dusk Dances 2026 at Withrow Park in Toronto from August 1 - August 9, 2026.
Photo by Kendra Epik
ABOUT DUSK DANCES
Dusk Dances is one of Canada's longest running outdoor dance series, with its flagship week-long festival taking place at Withrow Park, Toronto, drawing thousands of audience members annually. As dusk descends, a theatrical host leads the audience to an array of unique dance pieces that unfold in different areas of the park. Read more at www.duskdances.ca.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are inviting proposals of 10 minute solos, duets, trios and quartets of already existing dance work. Applications for new works still-in-development, or commissions, will not be considered at this time. Dusk Dances will not accept proposals from students currently enrolled in a post-secondary college, university, or conservatory institution.
Four or five dance works will be selected for Dusk Dances 2026 by Lead Curator Sofi Gudiño, and Supporting Curators Natasha "Courage" Bacchus and Miranda Liverpool.
DUSK DANCES WILL PROVIDE
Dusk Dances will provide a presentation fee that covers rehearsals, a performance fee for the artists and a fee to the choreographer. The fee is paid to the choreographer, who may decide how to distribute it to best serve their project. The fees per piece are $4,500 for a solo, $7,000 for a duet, $9,000 for a trio, and $11,500 for a quartet.
We will also provide all logistics for the festival, including the venue, technical personnel and equipment, marketing and publicity, and per diem/accommodation costs for out-of-province artists.
EQUITY & ACCESS
Dusk Dances is a racialized artists-led organization that values equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. We fully welcome and prioritize applications from People of Global Majority, Trans People, Queer People, Disabled People, Black, Brown, Asian, South Asian, Latin, Indigenous, and all named and unnamed folks who feel compelled. We invite you to self-identify in your proposal.
If you need accommodations to make this application happen, please reach out to uche@duskdances.ca. All applicants will be contacted.
Application Tips
Keep your writing simple! We want to hear from your authentic voice in these responses, so that we can get a feeling of your work. Don't worry about wowing us with fancy words about your piece so much as writing honestly about what you're doing and what you care about. We're excited to get to know you!
Thank you for taking the time to share your work with us.