Kentucky Dance Festival

Professional Showcase

Guidelines, FAQs, and Application Tips

Festival Dates:
March 13-15, 2026

Submission Deadline:
November 15, 2025, 11:59pm EST

Notification:
December 15, 2025

Professional Showcases:
March 13 & 14, 2026 @ 7pm

Student Showcase:

March 15, 2026 @ 2pm

(For ages 9 and up)

Location:
Actors Theatre of Louisville

316 W Main St

Louisville, KY 40202

Kentucky Dance Festival

March 13-15, 2026

Actors Theatre

316 W Main St

Louisville, KY 40202

Tickets will go on Sale in January on the Actors Theatre website!

Call for Choreography

Ambo Dance Theatre is officially launching the Kentucky Dance Festival on March 13-15, 2026 in partnership with Actors Theatre of Louisville!

We welcome submissions from artists and creators of all movement backgrounds and forms to submit to present work as part of the festival! Please read the details below completely before submitting!

Please note that the application is for both Professional and Student applicants! Follow the prompts in the form as applicable.

APPLY HERE!

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Submission Requirements

This festival is open to all styles and forms of dance, and any kind of choreographic process. Submitted works may be new works in progress, or they may be completed works. Dance works should be a minimum of 3 minutes, and a maximum of 15 minutes.

Alternative performance formats, such as screendance or site-specific works are welcome to submit as well but must be fully realized/completed at the time of submission, and video documentation provided. We do not currently have separate performances scheduled for these formats specifically, so inclusion of alternative format works will be considered as it makes sense for our current festival structure.

To make this opportunity accessible, we will NOT be charging an application fee. Choreographers will receive professional photographs and video of their pieces.

There is no compensation for performing as part of the Kentucky Dance Festival, however, attendees will have the opportunity to apply to teach paid master classes.

Submitting artists do NOT need to be local to Louisville or Kentuckiana. We welcome submissions from artists anywhere and everywhere! The artist, however, will be responsible for travel and housing expenses. Ambo Dance Theatre and the Kentucky Dance Festival will have limited ability to provide housing or travel stipends; this is handled on a case-by-case basis.

Artists may submit up to TWO pieces to participate in the Kentucky Dance Festival. Each submission requires a separate application.

Please know that Ambo Dance Theatre retains the right to decline any performance that does not fit the values of the Kentucky Dance Festival, at any point in the creation/submission process.

Application FAQs

Should I apply for the Professional Concert or Student Concert?

The Professional Concert is for adult dancemakers who are 18+ and have graduated high school. It is open to individual dancemakers, or submissions from companies, arts organizations, and universities. The Professional Concert submissions are adjudicated upon submission, meaning that a panel of professionals will review them for selection to participate. This is a competitive process geared toward featuring the current era of choreographers.

The Student Concert is for youth (ages 9+) and/or college-age dancemakers. Works submitted to this concert should either be created by dance students OR have a high degree of contribution/collaboration with student performers. Selection for the Student Concert is not as competitive in terms of participation; we are primarily looking to see follow-through and commitment! Unlike the Professional Concert, student works will receive adjudicator feedback during the festival itself. This experience is more geared toward uplifting the rising generation of choreographers.

College Students may use their discretion as to which concert they would like to submit to. They are eligible to submit to either the Professional Concert OR the Student Concert, but their work may not be considered for both.

How do you select the works?

A diverse group of choreographers and educators will review artist submissions and make recommendations based on factors such as creativity, innovation, development of ideas, choreographic structure, execution, diversity, and historical, social, and cultural perspectives. The Executive team will use the recommendations to curate showcases that highlight superior work in the broad field of dance, that demonstrate equitable representation, and that showcase a variety of local, regional, and national work. We also consider time/space parameters, number of dancers, and tone when making final programming decisions. Our goal is to curate a festival of dance that is diverse, compelling, entertaining, and of the highest possible artistic quality. Even so, we will end up having to eliminate many wonderful dances. If you are not selected, we sincerely hope you will consider applying again.

Can I submit more than one piece?

Yes, you may submit two pieces. Each submission requires a separate application.

What type of work are you looking for?

Kentucky Dance Festival presents any and all kinds of dance including but not limited to modern, jazz, ballet, belly dance, flamenco, improvisational dance, etc.

Can I request to perform at a particular show?

No. We do not accommodate special requests for rehearsal or performance times. By applying to the festival, you agree to perform in either show and to attend a spacing rehearsal and a production meeting prior to your performance. We communicate festival information well in advance so you can plan accordingly.

Can my video submission be a rehearsal video? Does it have to be of the dance I will be performing?

Please submit a performance or rehearsal video of the dance you want to perform at the festival. See the VIDEO TIPS near the bottom of the FAQs for more information regarding video submissions.

How will I know if I’ve been selected?

All applicants will receive an email notification about the status of your submission(s). Please check your spam folders! If you are selected, you will be asked to promptly accept our invitation and send a professional photo for KDF marketing materials. If you do not meet our acceptance deadline, we will give your spot to another artist. Artists who are not selected this year are strongly encouraged to apply again next year.

Why wasn’t I selected?

Not being selected is not a commentary on the value of your work. It is unfortunate that space and time prevent us from accepting every submission. When making programming decisions, we consider a variety of factors including the subject matter and tone of the dance, the length of the dance, the number of dancers, and etc. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot provide feedback to applicants who are not selected. Curating the showcases is a huge puzzle, so if you are not selected this year, please consider applying again!

Do participants receive a stipend?

No, participating companies will not receive a stipend. Companies should be prepared to cover costs to attend the festival, including, but not limited to, travel, food, lodging, parking, and transportation. Ambo Dance Theatre and the Kentucky Dance Festival may have limited ability to provide housing or travel stipends; this is handled on a case-by-case basis and not a guarantee.

While we do not offer a stipend, we do NOT require an application fee. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to apply to teach paid master classes.

I’ve read through the guidelines and still have a question!

No problem. Please contact our administrative team at ambodancetheatre@gmail.com.

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Performance Specifications

Footwear:

Bare feet, socks, or any appropriate dance shoe are allowed on the dance floor.

Other:

We cannot accommodate projection, harnesses, large set pieces, helium balloons, confetti, or glitter. Please note that if you submit work with these features, you should be prepared to adjust the piece accordingly, if selected. We MAY be able to accommodate live music, however, if you submit a piece with live music, you should also be prepared to present the work with an audio recording.

Techs:

Prior to arriving at the festival, all companies will complete an online questionnaire about lighting and music cues. Dances that rely heavily on specific and/or extensive lighting and sound cues will need to be simplified. Please note that we cannot project video as part of your dance performance. We cannot accommodate large or numerous set pieces that require a lengthy set up or breakdown. Tech rehearsals are typically held on the same day as your designated concert, with some rare exceptions.

Apply:

Read the Application FAQS (above), then fill out the Google Form (linked at the end of the FAQs)

Where is the application?

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APPLY HERE!

Video Tips

FOR COMPLETED WORKS AND ALTERNATIVE FORMAT WORKS: Your video submission should be a complete video, from beginning to end, of the work as you plan to perform it. Unfinished works will not be considered.
FOR WORKS IN PROGRESS: Your video submission should be a strong and accurate exemplar for your work as a creator in general, as well as for the work that you are submitting to present.
Send a clear, unobstructed, unedited video (or the best you can!).
You can submit a rehearsal video, however, please try to fill in as many gaps for us as you can. For example, if you have costumes, wear them in the video. It is helpful for us to see as complete of a vision as possible of your work.
Make sure your video is public and that we have permission to view it. If it is password protected, include the password in your application.
Send your video link to two people and make sure they can open and view it before you include it in your application.