February 26, 2026
We’re now inviting submissions for works where dance or movement is the main art form.
This open call seeks proposals for two existing dance works to be presented during Hidden Door Festival 2026, running from Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 7th June in Edinburgh. The two selected works will be performed each night of the festival, for a five-night run.
The deadline is midnight on Monday 23 March 2026.
We welcome proposals in a wide range of formats, including site-specific, promenade, pop-up, and other experimental approaches, as well as more traditionally staged end-on performances. Artists may also use this opportunity to reconfigure existing work for a site-responsive context.
For 2026, Hidden Door imagines the festival space as a myth in the making – a shared architecture shaped by the works presented.
Within this shared world, we are seeking two dance works that respond to either of the following two strands. These strands are offered as open points of entry rather than fixed categories, and proposals may sit within one strand or move between both.
For more traditionally staged works, we will be seeking performances between 20 and 40 minutes in length, for work presented in other formats we are open to different lengths.
This strand invites dance works that engage with objects, materials, or architectural structures in their choreographic thinking.
We are interested in work that explores relationships between performers and material.
This strand connects to ideas of temporary structures, portable architecture, and the festival as something that is continually assembled and dismantled.
This strand invites dance works that approach physical performance as a site of memory.
We are interested in work that engages with the idea that bodies carry impressions of the spaces they have moved through. This may include work that explores memory, absence, or imagined histories.
This strand connects to themes of haunting and movement as something remembered, reused, ritualised, or shaped by previous lives.
Hidden Door believes strongly in supporting new, emerging, and breakthrough talent, and particularly looks to support dancers and choreographers working at establishing their careers in Scotland.
As a multi-arts festival running programmes not only of Dance but also Music, Visual Art, Theatre, Spoken Word and Moving Image, we aim to bring new audiences into contact with art forms that they may not be so familiar with, and so we look to build our programme around work that we feel will work well with this aim in mind.
By bringing to life interesting disused spaces we work to create an exciting and accessible way for audiences to explore and discover new artistic voices in Scotland, and we strive to create high-impact, memorable events that will engage audiences and be great fun for the performers too.
We will be announcing our 2026 venue in March.
Hidden Door is committed to paying artists fairly. Fees will be discussed individually with each selected applicant, and contracts will be issued once engagement is confirmed.
All artists will be paid above Equity rates for both rehearsals and performances.
To ensure fair pay within our available budget, we recommend that proposed works involve no more than four performers and are performance-ready, requiring only a limited rehearsal period.
We particularly welcome applications from those who identify as having characteristics currently under-represented in the Scottish dance sector.
If you have any access needs and wish to discuss how Hidden Door can support your application and/or wish to discuss any aspect of the accessibility of the building we will be using for the Hidden Door venue, please get in touch.
Due to the small team and voluntary nature of Hidden Door unfortunately we will not be able to provide feedback to those not selected.
Deadline: midnight on Monday 23 March 2026.
Submit your application via the online form linked below. You can preview the questions in this PDF version to help you prepare your answers in advance.
When completing your application please do not worry too much about the use of grammar, spelling or formatting – these will not influence the outcome, we are interested in you and your work.
All the main questions can also be answered via video if you prefer. If sending video responses please provide either links for downloadable files (ie via Wetransfer) or Google Drive file links.
For videos of your choreographic or performance work please send Vimeo, Youtube or Google Drive file links, rather than files to download.
If you have any questions, please email dance@hiddendoorarts.org
