Our Curatorial Approach
At the International Dance Festival New Orleans, we are committed to discovering new artists and expanding our creative community. We are always interested in the work being made across the field of contemporary dance—what ideas are emerging, what communities artists are engaging, and how the form continues to evolve.
As a small festival, much of our programming grows out of ongoing relationships with artists, partner organizations, and presenters whose work aligns with our values and long-term vision. Our curatorial process is deeply relational and develops through sustained dialogue, trust, and collaboration. Some artists join us after years of conversation, while others come through partnerships, touring networks, and exchanges across the national and international dance landscape.
In addition to these relationships, the festival periodically invites submissions through open calls for artists, creating opportunities to connect with choreographers across the Gulf South region and beyond.
We welcome new connections and look forward to learning about the work being created in our communities.
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Current Open Call - Gulf South Call
The International Dance Festival New Orleans programs performances through a combination of curatorial research, long-term relationships with artists and partners, and periodic open calls.
For Gulf South–based artists, we currently invite submissions through our Gulf South Call for Artists, which takes place periodically and offers an opportunity to be considered for the festival program.
Ongoing (outside of Gulf South call)
Artists outside of the Gulf South, or those who wish to share their work outside of the open call cycle, are welcome to introduce themselves by emailing festival@bodyartdance.com. You may include an invitation to an upcoming performance or a full-length video of a completed work.
At this time, the festival programs fully developed works rather than commissioning new pieces, so access to a complete performance is essential for consideration.
We typically program one to two years in advance. Most performance opportunities are for works between 15–20 minutes, though on occasion we present evening-length performances.
If you feel your work aligns with the festival’s mission and scale, we would be glad to learn more about what you are creating.
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Each year we welcome a select group of artists to teach festival masterclasses. If you would like to be considered, please send the following to festival@bodyartdance.com:
• A short class description
• A brief bio
• Any relevant links that help us understand your teaching practiceMasterclasses are confirmed in early summer for the festival the following September.
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We are excited to share a new initiative for 2026. This year includes a special performance and creation opportunity with French choreographer Aina Alegre.
This residency will be a paid ten-day creation and performance period in late August through early September 2026, culminating in a performance at the festival.
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We are a very small staff supporting a growing community. While we care deeply about offering transparency, we are not always able to provide individualized feedback to every artist who reaches out or participates in a program. Please know this is due to capacity, not lack of care or interest.
We encourage you to email us, to share your work, and to stay connected (instagram is another great way to stay connected). We are artists too. We want to hear from you, and we will always share whatever information we can. We may not get everything perfect, but we will always move forward with love, respect, and gratitude for this incredible community.