CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CHOREOGRAPHERS under 30 IncluDancE / Erasmus+

05.07.2025 RESULT Call IncluDancE / Erasmus+

As a result of the high number of applications received ((194 in total)) and the consequent need for in-depth evaluation, the committees concluded the selection process related to the IncluDancE / Erasmus+ Call for young choreographers.

The quality level of the proposals was very high and made the selection process particularly complex. About ten choreographers stood out in the final ranking, and two among them were selected as first in the ranking::

Vicent Muñoz Amo 

Fay Van Baar 

The two artists will be contacted directly by the partner organizations to finalize the details of participation.
In case of any waivers, the ranking list will be scrolled.

We thank all applicants for sharing their work and for their interest in the project.

22.06.2025 NOTICE: Call IncluDancE / Erasmus+
– Postponement of the publication of results

The announcement of the final results for the Call IncluDancE / Erasmus+ has been postponed to July 5th, 2025,due to the high number of applications received(194 in total)and the need for a thorough evaluation by the selection committee

Selected candidates will be required to confirm their participation by July 11th, 2025..

This call is aimed at selecting 2 choreographers under the age of 30 for the international project IncluDancE, within the framework of the Erasmus+ program. The project is co-produced by Scenario Pubblico | Compagnia Zappalà Danza – Center of Relevant National Interest for Dance (Italy) and Of Curious Nature – TanzRaum Nord (Germany), two outstanding artistic and cultural organizations active in the contemporary dance scene, with the aim of promoting creativity, intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and innovation in the field of choreography.

The project IncluDancE, co-produced by these two organizations, aims to offer an opportunity for artistic growth to young emerging choreographers, encouraging collaboration among artists of different nationalities and experiences. The goal is to strengthen cultural dialogue through contemporary dance and promote social inclusion.

Scenario Pubblico | Compagnia Zappalà Danza (SP/CZD), directed by Roberto Zappalà, is one of the leading contemporary dance organizations in Italy, recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a "Center of National Relevance for Dance" in 2022. With over 35 years of international activity, the company has established a significant position within the national choreographic scene. Founded in 2002, Scenario Pubblico was the first example of a choreographic center in Italy, a pioneering project realized with private and European Community funds. SP/CZD is also an important center for artistic residencies and creative experimentation, serving as a reference point for Italian and international artists and companies. The structure promotes a strong connection between artistic creation, audience engagement, and education, developing a unique ecosystem where choreographic research, programming, and training coexist.

TanzRAUM Nord (TRN) is the organization that runs the international dance company Of Curious Nature (OCN)under the direction of Helge Letonja (DE/AT). The innovative contemporary dance company is produced by steptext dance project and is based in the Schwankhalle, a large production and performance venue in Bremen. OCN has built up an international reputation as one of the few independent companies working continuously in Germany. The company's extensive repertoire includes the artistic work of in-house choreographer Helge Letonja as well as numerous works by guest choreographers from the international dance scene. The company's movement language is physically intense and emotionally multifaceted, open to different artistic aesthetics and cultural languages, and deals with socially relevant themes. The artistic works for the stage are complemented by site-specific performances, works in public spaces and art and dance projects in virtual reality (VR).

Selection of 2 Under 30 Choreographers

Two choreographers under 30 will be selected

  • One selected by the artistic director of SP/CZD Roberto Zappalà and his team, to work in Catania between October and November 2025.

  • One selected by the artistic director of TRN/OCN Helge Letonja and his team, to work in Bremen between mid January and mid March 2026

The two choreographers will meet in Catania for the final phase of the project in May 2026.

(*) Applicants must not have turned 31 before the deadline of the call. (Applicants born after June 10, 1994, will be eligible).

 

Project Activities and Objectives

The project, taking place between Catania (Italy) and Bremen (Germany), aims to promote the professional development of young choreographers under 30 through a highly collaborative creative process. The activities are divided into two main phases:

(October – November 2025 / Catania, Italy)

During this phase, the selected choreographer will work intensively for 3 weeks with 8 young dancers (aged 20 to 26) at Scenario Pubblico. The goal will be to create choreographic material for a dynamic and structured performance. The dancers will actively contribute to the concept and choreography.

The focus will be on developing choreographic material adaptable to different performance contexts. During the residency, the choreographers will receive targeted training to refine their technical and creative skills, learning how to manage rehearsals, lead a team, and develop flexible choreographies for various formats.

At the end of this phase, there will be a public presentation of the choreographic research, staged in selected schools in the Catania province. The performances will be adapted to non-traditional spaces, such as classrooms and courtyards, offering choreographers and dancers a unique opportunity to transform everyday environments into dynamic stages. This site-specific approach will allow for the exploration of how choreography can be shaped for unconventional spaces, engaging a young audience.

(mid January - mid March 2026 / Bremen, Germany)

At this stage, TanzRAUM Nord will invite the selected choreographer to develop a new creation with the dancers of the Of Curious Nature (OCN) ensemble. After 4–5 weeks of intensive creation, the world premiere of the performance will be presented on a professional stage at the Schwankhalle in Bremen and followed by at least three additional performances.

The choreography will explore how dance can respond to contemporary challenges, using art as a tool of resistance against discrimination and hostility, while promoting emancipatory processes of inclusion.

(April - May 2026 / Catania, Italy)

The activities will culminate with the world premiere of the created performances during the 7th FIC Festival / Catania Contemporanea (April 29 – May 10, 2026). The choreographers and dancers, after gaining experience in the previous phases, will have an additional week of artistic and technical residency to refine their creations. The performances will be presented on a professional stage, integrating digital formats for immersive and engaging experiences.

An excerpt of the choreography developed for OCN in Bremen will also be presented at the FiC Festival in Catania in May 2026.

To apply, candidates must complete the online application form, available at the following link: https://tally.so/r/nP46We
Applications must be submitted not later than June 10, 2025.

During the application, the following documents must be uploaded

  • Curriculum vitae of the participating artist

  • Link to at least one previously created choreographic work (full video required)

  • Motivational video

The Artistic Direction will consider:

  • The artist’s curriculum

  • The quality of the work, assessed through the video materials provided

Selected candidates will be announced June 23rd, 2025*. Selected applicants will be required to confirm their participation by June 30th, 2025..

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*ANNOUNCEMENT: IncluDancE / Erasmus+ Call – Postponement of Results

The announcement of the final results for the Call IncluDancE / Erasmus+ has been postponed to July 5th, 2025,due to the high number of applications received(194 in total)and the need for a thorough evaluation by the selection committee

Selected candidates will be required to confirm their participation by July 11th, 2025..

For all residencies in Catania and Bremen, the following provisions will apply

  • Coverage of travel and accommodation expenses

  • A fee for the selected choreographers, covering research and development work in Catania or Bremen, and the final presentation in Bremen in March 2026 and Catania in May 2026.

The rehearsal procedures will be governed by the regulations of the hosting organizations, which will be signed together with the contracts. Working hours will be agreed upon with the respective organizations.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Youth for Europe. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

IncluDancE is a project by TanzRAUM Nord gUG | Of Curious Nature and Scenario Pubblico | Compagnia Zappalà Danza. Funded by the European Union

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