Choreograph For Hedwig Dances

Request For Proposal

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM CHOREOGRAPHERS

Throughout its five-decade history, Chicago-based Hedwig Dances has built vibrant, novel, and at times, startling visual and aural environments that cast the dancers in an altered, yet specific, time and place. The intersection of movement and visual environments – most specifically with objects, but also via integration of video, projections, set, and costume – has been a signature of the Company.

This year Hedwig Dances seeks proposals from choreographers working in the genre of contemporary, modern, and experimental dance to create an approximately 8–12-minute interdisciplinary work which merges dance within a visual environment, specifically with “things” or objects, and to explore the transformation of the object(s) with the moving human body.

Selected choreographers will work with Hedwig Dances’ company members to create the new work.

• The works will be performed April 2-4, 2027 (with daytime tech and dress rehearsals March 29 to April 1), as part of Hedwig Dances production at Ruth Page Center for the Arts.

• Choreographers will be given up to 40 rehearsal hours with the Company and must be available within Hedwig Dances’ rehearsal schedule beginning October 5, 2026: Monday 9-3, Wednesday, 9-3 and Thursday 12:30-4, as well as for dress, tech and performances.

• Each choreographer will receive a stipend of $500, plus $150 for production support, a video recording, and have their work fully produced on stage.

PROPOSALS

Proposals must include:

• a clear outline of the proposed work demonstrating the intersection of movement with object(s) and visual component(s),

• a cv listing their experience and choreography with professional dance companies

• a 10-minute dance reel showing excerpts of relevant choreographic work.

• Availability to work with the Company

Please submit proposals to the Google Form on this page on or before Friday, August 14, 2026.

Applicants will be notified by August 28, 2026.

REVIEW

Artistic Director Jan Bartoszek and Rehearsal Director Jessie Gutierrez will review the applications. Applications will be assessed on concept clarity and the integration of visual components with movement. Choreographers must demonstrate that they have secured rights to music usage.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be 22 years of age or older and have a minimum two-year record of creating and presenting work with one or more professional companies.

Photo of Paula Sousa by William Frederking in Jan Bartoszek’s ‘LightPlay’.