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festivalsmalta

Open Call: Malta-Based Artists & Choreographers


Photo by Elisa von Brockdorff

Welcome to the 4th edition of Dance Festival Malta, the festival dedicated to connecting artists, disciplines, and audiences through dance; dance that shares a strong choreographic sensibility, hosting performances and professional training. 

DFM inspires movement as the main language and the body as the main subject. Faced with numerous challenges that the evolution of dance faces today it draws in the viewer to a playful exchange of information through the poetic expression of all dance genres. The festival takes place in the capital city of Malta, Valletta. Besides performances, there will be masterclasses, workshops, community projects as well as Q & A post-performance talks.

 

Festivals Malta invites Malta-based dance artists to submit proposals to be considered for the 4th edition of Dance Festival Malta. We are interested in receiving proposals for dance performances. As DFM encourages dialogue between movement and diverse forms of dance styles and interdisciplinary dance, from the more traditional to the experimental works. Artists are encouraged to submit a work to be showcased at Dance Festival Malta relating

to any theme or subject. DFM largely addresses the value of artistic content. The work can involve other disciplines as long as dance and movement are the main focus.

 

Festival Location: Malta


Festival Dates:  24th – 27th July 2025


Deadline for submission:  31st January 2025


Eligibility Requirements and Conditions:

Experienced Artists (16+ upwards) and companies operating in the field of dance performance can apply. The selected artists will be given an artist fee (including VAT) reflected in the following categories:

 

Emerging Artists

·      Category: Solo (7 minutes) Euro 500

·      Category: Duet (10 minutes) Euro 700

·      Category: Group 3 pax + (12 minutes) Euro 1,300 Euro

 

  1. Tech rider (details discussed with the technical director to be kept to a  minimum); Tech staff and front-of-house staff (every artist/company must bring their own light design and work with the designated festival lighting engineer. Selected applicants will hand in a complete technical rider upon signing of contract. Rehearsal on stage will be designated on the same day as the performance. No extra rehearsal studio space is offered or covered by the Festival. Any musical instruments, props, or special requirements outside tech support are at the expense of the artist and must liaise with the Festival Manager.

  2. The dance pieces will be presented at one of the allocated theatre venues for DFM at the discretion of the Artistic Director’s programming vision. The theatres are namely Valletta Campus Theatre, Spazju Kreattiv and Manoel Theatre, and site-specific spaces around Valletta, with standard general technical support offered.

  3. Participants must have all the legal permissions to show the work, including use of music, if this is protected by copyright. This is at the applicants own expense.

  4. All applicants must have a registered VAT number.

  5. All applicants will be informed about the outcome of their submission by 5th February 2025 by email.

  6. The artistic team reserves the right to decide on the order of the shows programmed in the same evening. For shows created for the theatre space: the submitted works must be suitable to be set up on the stage of Valletta Campus Theatre, Spazju Kreattiv, and Manoel theatre.

  7. The shows may be programmed in shared bills. DFM will make every possible effort to guarantee the best technical conditions for the staging of the works, however, DFM may not be able to maintain exactly the same setup/set down/rehearsal times as requested.

  8. In case of selection, the companies and artists selected through this call agree to:

    1. stay for the entire duration of the festival in which their show will be programmed;

    2. take part in the feedback, dialogue, and networking exchanges planned during the entire festival period. This will be stipulated in the signed contract.

  9. All marketing materials requested of the artist and said piece such as photos, video footage, artist’s details, synopsis, are to be submitted by not later than 10th February 2025.


If you have any questions or difficulties uploading your files, please contact us on dfm@festivals.mt.

 

What we are looking for:

Selections will be made by the Artistic Director, project coordinator and Festival Manager. The selection criteria take into consideration artistic excellence, technical quality standards, issues related to the world of dance and performance as well as overall programming. We also highly encourage exploration of the future of art, questioning issues related to the ethics of collaboration, communication and coexistence including current environmental and socio- political challenges of our time. Dance Festival Malta reserve the right to request an interview (via Zoom etc.) with the candidates.

 

Eligibility for Applications:
  • an original work which is still in progress, ideally footage should be sent with this application.

  • a finished work already conceived for a formal space and may have already been performed in front of an audience.

  • an archived work that is being reactivated.


What we offer:
  • Performance against a fee as stated above.

  • Free entry to all the performances of the festival, discounts on workshops, which require a previous application.

  • Promotion and visibility on social media and other advertising channels.

  • Production of an event highlights video.

  • Photographic coverage of the performance.

  • Inclusion of performance on the official website https://www.festivals.mt/dfm

    accompanied by programme notes, photos, and presentation of the authors

 

How to apply:

To apply you need to have the following information and material handy:

  • Name of Artist or Dance Company

  • Title of performance

  • Category: Solo / Duet / Group

  • Synopsis of work (150 words) that describes what the piece is about

  • Bio of the choreographer and of each artistic collaborator (whose ages cannotbe less than 16+ years)

  • Bios of dancers (150 words)

  • Copy of ID Card/ Residency Document

  • Credits: include dancers, choreographer/s, collaborator/s, composer/s,  director/s etc.

  • Please include a WeTransfer link for the video footage of the proposed dance piece


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