Emerging Artists Mentorship Program

Emerging Artists Mentorship Program Call for Proposals
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2026
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Emerging Artists Mentorship Program Call for Proposals

Following the successes of the 2024 and 2025 Emerging Artist Mentorship Projects, the Wisconsin Dance Council is pleased to announce a third year of the Emerging Artist Mentorship Project to support Wisconsin’s emerging dance artists.

WDC is calling for dance artists of all genres to submit proposals for one subsidized choreographic cycle. In this third year, the project is designed to support (4) emerging artists within the first five (5) years of their professional career.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Apply Here
Participants in the Emerging Artists Membership Program will receive:
  1. Individual mentorship throughout the creative process.
  2. Two meetings with professional artists (in person or virtual, depending on artist location).
  3. Six to seven weeks of complimentary rehearsal space (up to 8 hours per week, November 2026–January 2027).
  4. A $1,000 artist stipend.
  5. A public performance opportunity in Southeastern Wisconsin (late January/early February 2027).
  6. Facilitated audience dialogue following the performance, exploring both the creative process and the finished work.
  7. Professional documentation, including high-quality video recording and still photography.
  8. An opportunity to help shape the future of the program by providing feedback and insights for future cohorts.

Meaningful networking opportunities with program alumni, professional artists, and members of the dance community.

Choreographic Guidelines:

  • Proposed work must be original choreography

  • Solo or group works will be considered
  • Only one submission per artist will be accepted
  • The proposed work must be choreographed by the submitting artist
  • Works should not exceed 15 minutes in length
  • “Dance on Film” proposals are not eligible

Written or Video Log Submission Format:

Within the online application, applicants may choose to submit the requested information in writing, or they may choose to submit the requested information with password protected video log links. The online application will include Video Log submission prompts.

Proposal Guidelines:

To be considered for this program, applicants must complete the Emerging Artist Mentorship Program Online Application by September 15, 2026 11:59pm.

The online application requests the following information: Applicant contact information; Work experience, including a 150 word bio, artist headshot, video samples of the applicant’s choreographic work; Information about the proposed project, including goals and production components; Project Impact, including the rationale for the proposed project, career impact, and the role of mentorship and/or community discourse.

Proposal Evaluation and Deliberation:

  • Proposed works will be adjudicated by a professional artist
  • Proposals will be evaluated using the following Evaluation Rubric
  • The adjudicator will limit their feedback on the materials submitted

Copyrights

Due to artistic copyrights issues, none of the selected works will be shared in any of the WDC Social Media platforms unless the music is original or public domain

Project Timeline

August 2026

  • Call for Submissions
  • September 15, 2026 11:59pm Online Proposal Submission to the WDC

Fall 2026

  • October 15, 2026 – Announcement of Selected Artists and Mentors
  • November 1, 2026 – First meeting with WDC, artists (4) and mentors (2) for scheduling, project scope and goals

November 2026 – February 2027

  • Debut of the creative process with (8) hours rehearsal/week for 6 – 7 weeks
  • Photo shoot with (4) emerging artists
  • Rehearsal Intensive with 2 showings for mentors and program alumni
  • Cohort exchange session(s) to discuss works in progress, creative questions and artistic insights.

January/February 2027

  • Public Showing of works in progress with artist discussion, audience participation, audience surveys

March 2027

  • A closing cohort gathering with artists, mentors and alumni to reflect on the creative process, exchange insights, and discuss future opportunities.
  • Video of the public performance and still photography shared with the (4) emerging artists

Emerging Artists Mentorship Program

Deadline Approaching
September 15, 2026
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Celebrating Emerging Artists in our Community

Emerging Artists Mentorship Program Call for Proposals

Submission Deadline September 25, 2025

Following the success of our 2024 Emerging Artist Mentorship Program, The Wisconsin Dance Council is pleased to announce its 2025 project to support Wisconsin’s emerging dance artists.

WDC is calling for dance artists of all genres to submit proposals for one subsidized choreographic cycle. In this second year, the project is designed to support (4) emerging artists who are beyond access to institutional structures that support their creative work and within the first five (5) years of their professional career.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Apply Here
This project will offer the following:

  • Mentorship for the duration of the creative process (two meetings in person or virtually, depending upon the artists’ location).

  • One month of free rehearsal space (8 hours/week) during the months of December 2025 and January 2026.

  • A stipend of $1,000

  • The opportunity to present the resulting work at a Southeastern Wisconsin area venue in late January/early February 2026.

  • The opportunity to engage in dialogue around both the dance making process and the resulting work with audience members.
  • Access to a quality video recording of the resulting work.

  • The chance to grow this project with the WDC and provide culminating knowledge, experience, and critical feedback for future project cycles.

Choreographic Guidelines

  • Proposed work must be original choreography
  • Solo or group works will be considered
  • Only one submission per artist will be accepted
  • The proposed work must be choreographed by the submitting artist
  • Works should not exceed 15 minutes in length
  • “Dance on Film” proposals are not eligible

Proposal Guidelines

To be considered for this program, applicants must complete the Emerging Artist Mentorship Program Online Application by September 25, 2025 11:59pm.

The online application requests the following information: Applicant contact information; Work experience, including a 150 word bio, video samples of the applicant’s choreographic work; Information about the proposed project, including goals and production components; Project Impact, including the rationale for the proposed project, career impact, and the role of mentorship and/or community discourse.

Written or Video Log Submission Format

Within the online application, applicants may choose to submit the requested information in writing, or they may choose to submit the requested information with password protected video log links. The online application will include Video Log submission prompts.

Proposal Evaluation and Deliberation
  1. Proposed works will be adjudicated by professional artist(s)
  2. Proposals will be evaluated using the following Evaluation Rubric
  3. Adjudicator(s) will limit their feedback on the materials submitted
Copyrights

Due to artistic copyrights issues, none of the selected works will be shared in any of the WDC Social Media platforms unless the music is original or public domain

Project Timeline

September 2025
  • Call for Submissions
  • September 25, 2025 Proposal Submission to the WDC
Fall 2025
  • October 20, 2025 – Announcement of Selected Artists and Mentors
  • November, 2025 – First meeting with WDC, artists (4) and mentors (2) for scheduling, project scope and goals
November 2025 – February 2026
  • Debut of the creative process with (8) hours rehearsal/week for one month
  • Photo shoot with (4) emerging artists
  • Rehearsal Intensive with 2 showings for mentors
January/February 2026
  • Public Showing with artist discussion, audience participation, audience surveys
March 2026
  • Project closure interviews with emerging artists and mentors
  • Video of the public performance shared with the (4) emerging artists

Emerging Artists Mentorship Program

Deadline Approaching
September 25, 2025
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Celebrating Emerging Artists in our Community

Emerging Artists Mentorship Program Call for Proposals

Submission Deadline September 25, 2025

Following the success of our 2024 Emerging Artist Mentorship Program, The Wisconsin Dance Council is pleased to announce its 2025 project to support Wisconsin’s emerging dance artists.

WDC is calling for dance artists of all genres to submit proposals for one subsidized choreographic cycle. In this second year, the project is designed to support (4) emerging artists who are beyond access to institutional structures that support their creative work and within the first five (5) years of their professional career.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Apply Here
This project will offer the following:

  • Mentorship for the duration of the creative process (two meetings in person or virtually, depending upon the artists’ location).

  • One month of free rehearsal space (8 hours/week) during the months of December 2025 and January 2026.

  • A stipend of $1,000

  • The opportunity to present the resulting work at a Southeastern Wisconsin area venue in late January/early February 2026.

  • The opportunity to engage in dialogue around both the dance making process and the resulting work with audience members.
  • Access to a quality video recording of the resulting work.

  • The chance to grow this project with the WDC and provide culminating knowledge, experience, and critical feedback for future project cycles.

Choreographic Guidelines

  • Proposed work must be original choreography
  • Solo or group works will be considered
  • Only one submission per artist will be accepted
  • The proposed work must be choreographed by the submitting artist
  • Works should not exceed 15 minutes in length
  • “Dance on Film” proposals are not eligible

Proposal Guidelines

To be considered for this program, applicants must complete the Emerging Artist Mentorship Program Online Application by September 25, 2025 11:59pm.

The online application requests the following information: Applicant contact information; Work experience, including a 150 word bio, video samples of the applicant’s choreographic work; Information about the proposed project, including goals and production components; Project Impact, including the rationale for the proposed project, career impact, and the role of mentorship and/or community discourse.

Written or Video Log Submission Format

Within the online application, applicants may choose to submit the requested information in writing, or they may choose to submit the requested information with password protected video log links. The online application will include Video Log submission prompts.

Proposal Evaluation and Deliberation
  1. Proposed works will be adjudicated by professional artist(s)
  2. Proposals will be evaluated using the following Evaluation Rubric
  3. Adjudicator(s) will limit their feedback on the materials submitted
Copyrights

Due to artistic copyrights issues, none of the selected works will be shared in any of the WDC Social Media platforms unless the music is original or public domain

Project Timeline

September 2025
  • Call for Submissions
  • September 25, 2025 Proposal Submission to the WDC
Fall 2025
  • October 20, 2025 – Announcement of Selected Artists and Mentors
  • November, 2025 – First meeting with WDC, artists (4) and mentors (2) for scheduling, project scope and goals
November 2025 – February 2026
  • Debut of the creative process with (8) hours rehearsal/week for one month
  • Photo shoot with (4) emerging artists
  • Rehearsal Intensive with 2 showings for mentors
January/February 2026
  • Public Showing with artist discussion, audience participation, audience surveys
March 2026
  • Project closure interviews with emerging artists and mentors
  • Video of the public performance shared with the (4) emerging artists
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