We are in search of choreographers of African descent to showcase their work in our annual choreographic festival, Upsurge Dance Festival in NYC. We are an interdisciplinary annual festival geared to present the voices of upcoming and seasoned choreographers. ALL STYLES ARE WELCOMED! This year, we are seeking past works that have been previously presented.The presented work must not exceed 9 min. Excerpts are welcomed! Artists may submit multiple works for review. Selected artists and their collaborators will be responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. Applications will be closed June 7th at 12:00am EST. Selected artists will be notified no later than June 13th! 

One choreographer will be selected to receive a mentorship opportunity! Previous mentors include well-renowned choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Tamica Washington-Miller, and Peter Chu. You will have the chance to receive one on one guidance for your next work in progress to be shown at USDF’s 2026 showcase. USDF will cover studio space during these mentorship sessions. The selected artist will participate in events such as interviews, preshow showings, and masterclasses.  We want to open up space for our dance community to learn your methods and some rep seen in our festival! 

Where: NYC; Theater TBA

When: September 13th, 2025

DEADLINE: June 7, 2025

Mission:
Upsurge Dance Festival is an interdisciplinary annual festival geared to present the voices of upcoming and seasoned choreographers. Premiered as a virtual live performance, USDF’s modus operandi is to provide a platform for artists of African descent to connect with like-minded creatives involved in all mediums within the dance scene. All selected artists will get ample chances for national exposure and networking to elevate their choreographic journeys to the next level. This festival highlights each individual choreographer over the course of the festival with workshops, live interviews, mentorships and so much more.

To apply, please fill out all information here: https://forms.gle/g9FXRD5tkFfBAr377

For all other inquiries, feel free to send an email to Upsurgedancefest@gmail.com

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