Dance Partner Projects 2026-27

Deadline: Monday 16 March 2026, 10.00am 

We are seeking applications from dance artists or companies based in the North (priority is given to artists based in Yorkshire) to take part in our Dance Partner Projects 2026-27.

About Dance Partner Projects  

Dance Partner Projects is open to dance artists or companies who are based in the North (priority is given to artists based in Yorkshire). The programme aims to provide dance artists/ companies at different career stages with an opportunity to research and develop a new or early-stage artistic project. Read about our Dance Partner Projects 2024-25 here.

The artists or company selected for Dance Partner Projects will benefit from: 

• £3,000 for use as match funding or to cover a research residency 
• Up to 3 weeks of research time in our studio. 
• Support from Yorkshire Dance’s Artist Development team. For example to support project development, producing, fundraising, connecting with specific participants or audiences, dramaturgy etc. 
• The potential opportunity to present work-in-progress at our annual No Dress Code scratch night in November each year. 
• The opportunity to show work within our Encounters Festival programme, where thematically appropriate and dependent on timing. 

What we are looking for 

We’re passionate about supporting dance artists who ask questions of themselves, their work and of the world. We help artists to develop the right contexts for their work, be that theatres, outdoor or other non-theatre contexts. 

We aim to add significant value to your proposed project, therefore we are looking for project proposals that align with one or more of Yorkshire Dance’s programme strands: 

• Work for or with early years (0-5 years) 
• Work which is co-created with intergenerational groups of people 
• Work exploring themes of age and ageing 
• Work developed by or with members of the LGBTQ+ community 

 Yorkshire Dance believes that the climate crisis is one of the major issues facing our world and society at the current time. Therefore, we are particularly interested in projects proposals that have a low environment impact and/or aim to instigate positive environmental action. 

Selection for Dance Partner Projects

Proposals are selected by a panel with artist representation through an open call process which takes into account: 

• The originality & strength of the artistic idea 
• Your track record so far and development aims 
• How well your work connects with Yorkshire Dance’s programme strands outlined above 
• Where you are based (this opportunity is only open to dance artists/companies based in the North. We prioritise applications from artists based in Yorkshire.) 

Decision timeline 

We will contact all shortlisted artists/ companies by Thursday 26 March with the outcome of your application. If necessary, this may include an invitation to have a conversation about the project. 

How to apply 

Please complete and submit the form below before 10.00am on 16 March 2026 (note this form cannot be saved so you may wish to draft your answers first before copying these into the form).  

You can also film or audio record yourself answering these questions. To submit your application as a video please send a file via We Transfer, Google Drive or Dropbox to tammytsang@yorkshiredance.com  

If you have a question about Dance Partner Projects and would like to speak to a member of the team, please email Tammy Tsang at: tammytsang@yorkshiredance.com or call us on 0113 243 8765.

Image: The Smalls by Izzy Brittain, Children and Their Grown Ups Festival 2025 (c) David Lindsay