Call for Choreographers - Small Plates Choreography Festival

CALL FOR DANCE MAKERS

Applications are open for Small Plates Choreography Festival, a series of two curated dance performances to be presented on March 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. and March 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at The Fredgren Studio Theatre, 3443 Carlin Springs Rd, Falls Church, VA 22041

Hosted by DanceArtTheater 
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott

Performances
March 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. 
March 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Application deadline: December 1, 2025
Notification: On or before December 15, 2025
Confirmation: within one week of acceptance

Venue
The Fredgren Studio Theatre, 3443 Carlin Springs Rd, Falls Church, VA 22041

Fee
$50

Compensation
$100/company, Photo and Video documentation, Comp Ticket

Small Plates invites applications from dance makers across all genres based in the U.S. We are particularly interested in distinctive, impactful dance works that respond to reflect the eclectic and diverse culture of the Northern Virginia region.

Dance works of any dance genre up to 10 minutes in length will be considered for inclusion in one of two performances. Large group pieces are acceptable, and student-choreographed work will be considered.

Accepted applicants are expected to perform the piece with which they applied with the same or similar cast and number of performers.

Venue
https://balletnova.org/

The Fredgren Studio Theater is located within BalletNova Center for Dance. It is a 50' x 27.5' proscenium-style performance space with 14' ceiling, wood sprung floor covered with marley flooring. The performance area is set with a traveler and legs and professional lighting. 

Tech
Technical rehearsals will take place on Friday, March 13 for local artists, and the day of the performance for out of town artists. Each artist will be given 15-20 minutes technical rehearsal. Tech rehearsals begin at 10:00 a.m. on performance day and call for all performers is two hours prior to showtime.

Post-Performance Reception
All performers and choreographers are expected to remain on-site after the performances to engage with the audience in dialogue about their work. Please consider this time with the audience and your fellow cast members as part of the performance when considering your travel needs.

Video
Please submit a video link for the work you would to present in your application. Montage videos cannot be adjudicated; we curate individual dances. Studio footage is acceptable. Completed work will be given preference over work-in-progress.

Fees: An application fee of $50.00 per piece is required. Your fee must be paid via Paypal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/smallplatesdance/50 before your work will be considered. *We do not have funds available for fee waivers at this time.*

Adjudication
Entries will be adjudicated by career dance professionals from around the country that specialize in various areas in the field. Programming decisions will weigh the opinions of the adjudicators alongside other factors, including balancing the program between local and traveling artists,. 

Compensation: Choreographers who have their work chosen will be responsible for their own travel and accommodations and will be supported with a per-company stipend of at least $100. Choreographers will receive one complimentary ticket to the performance in which their work appears and will be given a video and photographs of their performance after the show.

Small Plates is not able to assist international choreographers in obtaining visas and we will only be considering work from US-based artists.

Dates The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025. You will be notified by email on or before December 15, with our decision of acceptance or rejection. If your piece is accepted, you will have one week after you receive our acceptance email to submit your program information, technical information, publicity photos, and sound file.

To apply, please complete the entire form at smallplatesdance.com/nova

For further information, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

Photo: Ad Deum Dance Company at Small Plates Austin, 2026, PC Beth McKee Elliott