Yorkshire Dance are seeking new dance performances, workshops and talks to programme within our Ageless Festival 2026. Now in its fourth edition, Ageless Festival invites us to reimagine our perceptions around dance and age. 

Background

Established in 2019, Ageless Festival emerged in response to the growing recognition in the sector that as dancers and choreographers age they have less visibility, support and performance opportunities.  

At the same time, the ageing population in the UK, led to an explosion of community dance companies made up of older adults. Groups with a desire to professionalise their practice and secure funding for more ambitious projects. 

The success of the first Ageless Festival created an appetite for more. In the third edition of the festival in 2024 we introduced an intergenerational strand, programming work which explores how dance transcends age and connects us across generations. 

About Ageless 2026

Ageless will take place on 17 and 18 July 2026.

We’re interested in how different cultural or societal attitudes to age, ageing and the body intersect with diverse dance practices. 

We are seeking work from different dance genres (this could be Kathak, Contemporary, Hip Hop, African dance, traditional folk dances etc.) which offers new insights into ageing in the UK and around the world. 

We are interested in the politics of the body, who is visible, who is celebrated and what we define as beautiful. We are interested in where age and experience hold power and status – and how dance can help us redefine our relationship to age and ageing. 

What we are looking for

We are seeking proposals for:

• Workshops and classes. 
• Performances (solos, duets, trios, small groups). Performances do not need to be full length. We can programme short pieces within double/ triple bills where appropriate.  
• Talks which expand our understanding of dance and age.
• Films (documentary, screendance, installation) 

Please note that you must be available to deliver your proposal at Ageless 2026 on 17 and/or 18 July 2026.

What can’t we offer

• We cannot offer commissioning funds for new work. Please only apply if your work is ready for performance or presentation.  
• We are unlikely to have funds to cover international travel. Please only apply if you have already secured or are planning to apply for Embassy funding or similar to cover travel costs.
• We can’t cover travel and accommodation for large groups of community participants (4 or more). If you are submitting a proposal for a large community performance please only apply if you are in the Yorkshire area and/or you can cover your own travel and accommodation costs.
• We can’t support work where dance is not the central/leading art form.

How to apply

Please complete the form below no later than midday on Monday 17 November 2025.

If you would like to tell us about your idea in a different way, please send a video or voice recording which answers the questions below. Send your video or recording via email to our Creative Director, Hannah Robertshaw on hannahrobertshaw@yorkshiredance.com. If you have any queries please get in touch either via email or by phoning Hannah on 0113 243 8765.

Selection process

Proposals will be reviewed by the programming team. We will notify you about the outcome of your proposal by 19 December. If you are shortlisted, the team will get in touch for further discussion before this date.

Image: The Royale Dancehall Flamingos – Live! by PC*DC at Ageless 2022 © David Lindsay