Cleveland Public Theatre presents

DanceWorks 2025

Request for Proposals – Deadline: November 22nd

CPT seeks local dance companies for DanceWorks 2025! For consideration, please fill out this form by November 22, 2024 at 5pm.

DanceWorks offers an opportunity for emerging and established Northeast Ohio dance companies and choreographers to present world premiere works in a series with other local dance companies as an important part of Cleveland Public Theatre’s 2024-2025 Season.

DanceWorks aims to create a bold experimental playground for companies and choreographers. We seek to represent a diverse array of forms, genres, and aesthetic values. Performances should be comprised of at least 50% world premiere work. Pieces will be selected with special consideration to impact and quality.

Through a submission process, CPT is looking to select 3-6 local dance companies for slots between April 21st and May 25th. Each group selected will perform for one weekend. Applicants may apply to be on a double bill and split the evening of entertainment with another company. Solo choreographers may also choose to work with another one or two choreographers to create a combined evening application for a single bill. In this scenario, please still choose only one choreographer to serve as the lead artist and point of contact with CPT.

BILLING & BOX OFFICE SPLITS

Groups may apply for single bills (75 minutes of programming) or to be on a double bill (30 – 45 minutes of programming).

Groups on a double bill will share revenue, rehearsal time, and technical time.

For single bills, a group will receive a guarantee of $2,000 against a box office split of 60% for the dance company. For double bills, a group will receive a guarantee of $1,200 against a box office split of 30% for the dance company.

SPECIFICS OF YOUR PIECE

If selected, CPT will provide: 

• A series Stage Manager (available for evening rehearsals) 

• Four hours of technician time on the Monday of your showing 

• A repertory light plot suitable for dance 

• Basic sound playback 

• Box office and house management staff 

Each company will need to provide their own artistic collaborators and additional technical staff as needed. Please note that your group may choose to adjust the light plot provided, but if you choose to do so, your company is responsible for all adjustments made and returning the plot to its original state immediately following your final performance.

Each group or pair of groups will have access to the theatre only for the week of their show: Monday – Wednesday for load-in and rehearsals, and Thursday – Saturday for performances. Double bills will share revenue, rehearsal time, and tech time.

Banner photo of Blakk Jakk Dance Collective by Eric Floyd