Deadline: 11-Nov-2025
The International Solo Dance Theatre Festival provides a current overview of the latest developments in the emerging solo dance theatre scene.
Choreographers and dancers from all over the world present a solo piece that offers a new, original, imaginative, and unusual performance with a distinctive style.
A total of €16,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. Choreography and dance prizes include first prizes of €3,500 each, second prizes of €2,500 each, and third prizes of €1,500 each. Additional awards include the Public’s First Choice Award of €500 and the Public’s Final Choice Award of €500. Residency prizes will also be given.
Accommodation will be provided in double rooms shared with another participant, with hotel costs including breakfast covered by the organizer, along with contributions toward travel expenses. Award winners are required to take part in the “Award Winners’ Gala of the 30th International Solo Dance Theatre Festival Stuttgart 2026,” a tour in Germany from November 13 to 30, 2026, with travel, hotel, and meals covered.
Young choreographers may apply with a contemporary solo piece that will be premiered or is no more than one year old at the time of its performance at the festival in March 2026. The performance must be between 9 and 12 minutes long. Choreographies should be based on a contemporary and, above all, original movement language. The choice of themes and music is optional. The piece can be performed by the choreographer themselves or by a dancer. The minimum age for dancers is 30 years.
The choreography, including a sample work, must be submitted as an online link through YouTube or Vimeo, with Vimeo applicants enabling the download function. Only complete applications submitted in German or English by the deadline will be considered. Participation in the competition is free of charge, and a board of trustees will decide on admission. Selected participants will receive invitations by mid-December 2025.
Competitors must be available for performances across all four days of the festival and agree to participate free of charge in interviews, film and television recordings, and photo sessions. Preliminary rounds will be held publicly from Thursday evening to Saturday evening before an international jury, who will then announce finalists on Saturday evening. Finalists will perform again on Sunday, and all participants must remain present until the end of the festival. The jury’s decision is binding, and in cases of direct association with a participant, jurors will abstain from voting.
The stage size is 10 m x 8.50 m, equipped with a black dance floor, black poster with lanes, and a black or gray stone wall backdrop. Standard lighting and sound storage options will be provided. Only easily transportable, flame-retardant props are allowed, and materials that could contaminate or endanger the stage are prohibited. Participants are allowed a maximum of 75 minutes for stage setup, lighting, and rehearsal.
Online registration must be completed by November 11, 2025, 12:00 AM (CET).
For more information, visit International Solo Dance Theatre.
