Melbourne Fringe X Dancehouse 2024

Dancehouse is offering opportunities for new or existing live dance projects to be presented at Dancehouse in October during the 2024 Melbourne Fringe.

In 2024, two works selected at Dancehouse will receive a Fringe Commission of $2,500 to support their presentation.

Key Dates for Melbourne Fringe x Dancehouse

Tue 16 Apr: EOIs open
Wed 15 May: EOIs close
Fri 21 June: Fringe Registrations close
1-20 October: Melbourne Fringe Festival
9-12 October: Presentations in Week 1 at Dancehouse
16-19 October: Presentations in Week 2 at Dancehouse

Please note if selected you will be required to provide full marketing materials for registration by no later than 11 June 2024.

Dancehouse will present works during the first two weeks of Melbourne Fringe 2024 only (October 9-19).

What Dancehouse offers:

• A four night season at Dancehouse in either the Sylvia Staehli Theatre or Upstairs Studio
• An upfront fee of up to $1,000, OR up to $2,500 if selected for a Fringe Commission*
• Door split (50:50) on net box office over $2,500
• Free venue use for the presentation and up to 20 hours free rehearsal time in the lead up to your event at Dancehouse
• Affordable space for additional rehearsal hours
• Access to Dancehouse technical equipment and standard lighting rig
• Standard marketing support from Dancehouse and Melbourne Fringe
• Front of House and Producing staff support from Dancehouse throughout the season
• Please note: Operators for shows are not provided

* Fringe Commissions

Dancehouse builds and promotes equity across the dance sector and, with our partners Melbourne Fringe, will select up to TWO projects for a $2,500 Fringe Commission to support your presentation at Dancehouse.

Fringe Commissions will prioritise artists and works from artists that identify as First Nations, with a disability, Street-born, South and South-East Asian.

Who is Melbourne Fringe at Dancehouse for?

This opportunity is open to existing or in-development dance works, events, and choreographic works able to be performed live at Dancehouse.

Choreographers and dance artists at any stage of their career are welcome to apply.

Australian artists from interstate, or overseas are welcome to apply if they can accommodate and support their stay in Melbourne and address touring logistics in their proposal.

Works to be presented at Dancehouse must be able to be performed in either the Sylvia Staehli Theatre or Upstairs Studio and must be able to share the space with other shows.

How to apply

Please send your Expression of Interest to Dancehouse using the ‘Submit’ button on this page.

Sending a project idea is simple: we ask for the lead artists’ contact details and for a single attachment of your proposal as either a 2-page document (Word or PDF only) OR a downloadable video file (Vimeo, YouTube or WeTransfer).

Expressions of Interest close 11.59pm, Wed 15 May 2024. Dancehouse will confirm receipt of all projects by COB Friday 17 May 2024.

How Projects are selected

Dancehouse represents a diversity of visions, practices, and generations committed to the expression, development and celebration of dance artists, and the artform itself. 

Fringe projects will be reviewed and curated by an advisory peer panel made up of independent dance artists and Dancehouse staff. Each projects will be considered for their creative ambition and context, their viability, potential to engage and attract diverse local audiences, and curated as a complementary Fringe program of diverse and exciting works at Dancehouse. 

Dancehouse builds and promotes equity across the dance sector.  We prioritise works from artists that identify as First Nations, with a disability, Street-born, South and South-East Asian.

Applicants may be contacted to discuss their proposal in further detail.  All applicants will be notified by Fri 31 May 2024.

Given the subjective nature of our curatorial approach, no feedback will be offered to any of the applicants.