ORBIT 2026 is a new pilot touring program developed to address a critical gap in the Australian dance ecosystem: the absence of a sustainable touring model for small-to-medium scale independent dance works. Led by a consortium of Dancehouse (VIC), Sydney Dance Company (NSW), and Australian Dance Theatre (SA), ORBIT is built on the shared ambition to amplify and extend the life of existing independent works through strategic remounting and national presentation.

In 2026 ORBIT will present and tour curated works. Each ORBIT tour offers a rich “whole night of dance” experience for audiences while providing independent choreographers the opportunity to remount and reintroduce significant works to new audiences.

ORBIT is designed for works that deserve more. This may be your greatest hit—a critically lauded or audience-adored work that only had a short life—or a standout piece from your body of work that never reached its touring potential. Whether it premiered last year or a decade ago, ORBIT is a platform for works that still have something to say, something to show, and somewhere else to go. We’re looking for powerful, polished, tour-ready works that have proven resonance and the potential to find fresh meaning and reach in 2026.

Applications are now open. 

ORBIT has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and delivered in partnership by Dancehouse, Sydney Dance Company, and Australian Dance Theatre.

We’re thrilled to be running ORBIT with our peers at Sydney Dance Company and Australian Dance Theatre.

Please note, all links will take you to the Sydney Dance Company website, who will be accepting applications on behalf of the ORBIT partner companies.

Key Dates

EOIs Open: 2 February 2026

Applicant information sessions: Wednesday 4 March and Wednesday 18 March – Register

EOIs Close: 24 March 2026

Panel Decisions: Late April 2026

Artist Notification & Contracting: Mid to late May 2026

Remount & Tour dates: 19 October – 22 November 2026

FAQs

A full suite of ORBIT FAQs is accessible via the Sydney Dance Company website.

ORBIT FAQs

Artist information sessions

Throughout the application process, we’ll be running online information sessions for potential applicants to answer questions about ORBIT and shed light on the genesis of the program.

Application Info Session 1: Wednesday 4 March 2026
2pm AEDT (ACT, NSW, VIC, QLD, TAS) | 1:30pm ACDT / ACST (NT, SA) | 12pm AWST (WA)

Application Info Session 2: Wednesday 18 March 2026
2pm AEDT (ACT, NSW, VIC, QLD, TAS) | 1:30pm ACDT / ACST(NT, SA) | 12pm AWST (WA)

Register

How do I lodge my application?

Applications can be lodged via dedicated portal hosted by Sydney Dance Company, one of the ORBIT project partners.

Click the button on the side to go to the application form.

Why ORBIT?

ORBIT has been created to fill a crucial gap in the dance ecosystem.

Independent dance artists work at the coal face of choreographic innovation and experimentation. Too often, extraordinary independent dance works premiere and then, through a lack of appropriate infrastructure, live only in memory. Artists miss out on the opportunity to develop these works to their fullest potential, and build audiences across the nation. Audiences miss out on experiencing work from those at the forefront of the artform.

United by a shared mission to amplify exceptional independent choreography through strategic remounting and national presentation, Dancehouse (VIC), Sydney Dance Company (NSW) and Australian Dance Theatre (SA) have joined forces to champion independent artists and invest in the longevity of independent dance works that deserve national attention.

Supported by Creative Australia, this new program is an investment in the dance ecosystem, acknowledging that a thriving independent sector makes all of us stronger.

What do artists receive?

ORBIT offers pre-existing dance works with a fully supported remount and presentation opportunity.

One work will be selected from each state (NSW/VIC/SA) and at least one work will be First Nations-led. The artists involved will receive a fully supported remount and presentation period, with all associated costs with touring covered by the program.

Works will also receive producing, marketing and production support throughout the program from each company. Selected ORBIT artists will be given everything they need to focus on the art.

Who is eligible?

ORBIT is open to independent Australian dance artists. Eligible works must have been presented previously and be able to be remounted and toured with a maximum of five artists.

Works need to be of outstanding quality and must be adaptable to a variety of black box venues with minimal touring and production needs. If your proposed work has a high production needs but you’re proposing reimagine the work for the ORBIT program, please outline this in your application.

Emerging, mid-career and established artists and collectives are all welcome to apply for ORBIT.

Dance is a vital artform that transcends language and culture. We encourage applications from First Nations, CaLD, Deaf or Disabled and LGBTQIA+ artists.