Apply - D&M Emerging Artist Awards · Through the Looking Glass

Who this is for

If you have an established choreographic practice rooted in dance or movement, you are eligible to apply — in any style or genre.

Any style, any genre. Contemporary, classical, hip-hop, heels, jazz, street, or something that does not have a name yet. Style is never a filter — you tell us about yours in Choreographic Identity.
No formal training required. Self-taught and professionally trained artists are equally welcome.
Emerging is a stage, not an age. It is about where you are in your career and where you are going, not how old you are or how long you have been practising.
You must be 18 or older and a resident of the United States, able to travel within the US.
Applying is free. The Foundation never asks applicants for payment, at any stage.

You may not be eligible if you have already achieved sustained national or international recognition, have regular access to major commissions or productions, or are already widely established in your field. There is no single definition of an emerging artist — if you are unsure whether this is right for you, we encourage you to apply.

Applicant Guidelines

Stage One is your opportunity to introduce yourself, your creative practice and the work you make. We want to understand your artistic voice, movement language and where you are in your creative journey.

This is not about high production values. Whether your work is professionally filmed or captured in rehearsal, we’re interested in the originality of your choreography, your creative thinking and your artistic potential.

Five Selected Artists will be chosen from this stage.

Every Selected Artist receives

Mentorship · Creative development · Professional production support

$5,500 stipend for the week of participation in Dallas

Three will also receive unrestricted Artist Development Grants of

$30,000·$15,000·$10,000

To complete your application, please prepare the following

A short artist biography (maximum 200 words)
A statement about your creative practice (maximum 300 words)
A description of your choreographic identity (maximum 150 words)
A ‘Why You, Why Now?’ statement explaining why this is the right moment for you to join the program (maximum 300 words)
A portfolio featuring either one showreel or up to three choreographic works, submitted as Vimeo or YouTube links, with brief descriptions where relevant
Links to your professional or social media profiles (where applicable)

Before applying, please ensure you’re able to commit to the key stages of the program, including the creative development period throughout September and October, rehearsals in Dallas and the live event on 31 October 2026.

You can leave and come back. Your answers are kept in this browser as you type, on this device only, a work sample you have chosen is not held between visits, so re-attach it when you return.

Applying is free. The Daniel and Marcella Nutkis Charitable Foundation will never ask applicants for payment at any stage of the application, selection or award process.

If you require support with the application process or have a question that is not answered within these guidelines, please contact [email protected]. We can help with the form, the requirements and the timeline, but we cannot advise on your creative concept or review work before you submit it.

1YouAll required unless marked

This section helps us understand who you are and how we can contact you throughout the application process.

First name

Please enter your first name.

Last name

Please enter your last name.

Date of birth

Month, day, year. The slashes are added as you type.

Please give your date of birth as mm/dd/yyyy. You must be 18 or older by August 1, 2026.

Please enter a valid email address.

Confirm email

The two email addresses do not match.

Phone

Please enter a phone number we can reach you on.

City

Please enter your city.

State

Please select your state.

How did you hear about us?

Please tell us how you heard about the open call.

Your contact details are used only for program communications: application updates, the shortlist notification, and, if you are selected, scheduling and production logistics. Your name is not shown to reviewers alongside your work sample in the first round.

2EligibilityFour confirmations

The 2026 D&M Emerging Artist Awards are open to individual choreographers and movement artists who are at an emerging stage of their creative career. Please confirm each of the following.

I am applying as an individual artist, in an individual capacity, not as a company, collective or group. I am based in the United States. I will be 18 years of age or older by August 1, 2026. My practice is rooted in Performance, Choreography & Movement.

Please confirm all four eligibility statements. If you cannot, you are not eligible for the 2026 open call.

What “emerging” means here

We define an emerging artist by career stage, creative potential and access to meaningful professional opportunities, not by age, formal education or the number of years you have been practicing. You may already have professional credits, paid engagements, commissions, performances, awards or representation and still be eligible. Artists who have already achieved sustained national or international recognition, or who have access to the level of opportunities and resources typically associated with an established career, may not be eligible. If you are unsure whether this opportunity is right for you, we encourage you to apply. We recognize that creative careers develop in different ways, and we consider each artist’s journey individually.

Having read the above, I confirm that I believe I meet the Foundation’s definition of an emerging artist.

Please confirm you have read the definition and believe you qualify.

3Your practiceSix required, one optional

This is your opportunity to introduce your creative practice, your influences and the ideas that shape the work you make.

Please do not put sensitive personal information in any of the boxes below, health, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, immigration status or anything of that kind. None of it is asked for, none of it forms part of the assessment, and the Foundation would rather not hold it.

Which best describes your practice?

Style and genre are not asked here — the open call is open to any style or genre, and you describe the styles and techniques that influence your work under Choreographic Identity below.

Please choose one.

Artist biography

0 / 200 words

Please write a short biography, up to 200 words.

Creative practice statement

Tell us about your artistic practice. You may wish to include:

The themes, ideas or influences that shape your work
Your creative process and approach
The types of experiences you create for audiences
What you are interested in exploring through movement and performance

0 / 300 words

Please tell us about your creative practice, up to 300 words.

Choreographic identity

Tell us about your movement language and creative approach. You may wish to describe:

The styles, techniques or disciplines that influence your work
The qualities, themes or ideas that define your choreography
How you use movement, music, storytelling or physical expression

0 / 150 words

Please describe your choreographic identity, up to 150 words.

Selected credits (optional)

Share any relevant professional experience, which may include performances, productions, commissions, collaborations, festivals, awards, or teaching and creative projects. A simple list is welcome.

0 / 1200

We consider each artist’s journey as a whole. No single credit or achievement determines eligibility.

Why you, why now?

0 / 300 words

Please tell us why this is the right moment, up to 300 words.

4Your workVideo and portfolio

This is your opportunity to share the work that best represents your creative voice, movement language and artistic practice.

We are not looking for production value, we are looking for originality, intention and the strength of your creative ideas. Studio footage, rehearsal footage and professionally filmed work are all welcome. Choose the work that gives us the clearest understanding of who you are as an artist.

Where can we see your work?

Please share links to examples of your creative practice. This could include a website, showreel, portfolio, Vimeo or YouTube links, Instagram or other professional profiles, or previous projects, performances and commissions.

Please provide at least one link. You can add up to six.

Please add at least one complete web address, starting with http:// or https://.

Primary work sample

Submit one video showcasing your choreographic or movement-based work. You can upload a file or provide an unlisted Vimeo or YouTube link, both formats are reviewed equally. Up to 5 minutes; MP4, MOV, M4V or WEBM; maximum 500 MB.

Drag your video here, or choose a file MP4, MOV, M4V or WEBM · up to 500 MB · up to 5 minutes

Everything you attach is checked in your browser first, so a corrupted or half-copied file is caught now rather than after the deadline. Nothing leaves this page until you submit.

Please add one work sample, either upload a file or paste a link.

Portfolio materials

Please submit supporting materials that give further insight into your work and creative practice: production images or performance stills, portfolio PDFs, program notes, creative documentation, or process and development materials. Choose what best represents your artistic voice and the quality of your work, we are more interested in understanding your practice than seeing the largest collection of credits. PDF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC or TIFF; maximum 25 MB per file; up to 10 files.

Drag your files here, or choose files PDF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC or TIFF · up to 25 MB each · up to 10 files

Please make sure your links open and your files are the right ones before you submit.

Please add at least one portfolio file, and remove any that could not be accepted.

5Consent & submitThree confirmations

Before submitting your application, please confirm the following.

I confirm that the information provided in my application is accurate, and that the work submitted is my own. I confirm that I have the necessary permissions to share any work samples, including permission from any identifiable individuals featured within them. I agree that the Foundation may store, review and process my application materials for the purpose of administering the D&M Emerging Artist Awards open call, in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I confirm that I have read and understood the eligibility requirements and the Terms & Conditions for the 2026 Emerging Artist Awards open call.

Please confirm all three to submit.

If you wish to withdraw your application, or request deletion of your submitted materials, please write to [email protected].

Not quite ready to send

Applications close August 12, 2026

The Foundation never asks applicants for payment.

Saved a draft by mistake?

Application received

Thank you, we have your application

Your application has been received — if you are shortlisted, you will be contacted by the Foundation.

A confirmation is on its way to your inbox. If it has not arrived within a few minutes, check your spam folder. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

The Foundation never asks applicants for payment.

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