BARNSTORM DANCE FEST
The call for applications to the 2026 festival has closed. Thank you to all the artists and companies who submitted applications!
All applicants will receive notification of the panel’s decision by November 21, 2025. The festival lineup will be announced, and tickets will go on sale in January 2026.
We can’t wait to Barnstorm with you next year!
Apply to present a live performance or dance film work in Barnstorm Dance Fest 2026!
Barnstorm Dance Fest Dates: April 13-18, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 festival! Applications for performance work are accepted through Submittable and films may be submitted through FilmFreeway. Applications will not be accepted through any other platform.
Application Deadline: August 22, 2025 at 11:59pm CST
Performance Application
Eligibility
- Individuals, collectives, and organizations working in any dance genre.
- Applicants do not have to be Houston area residents. A select number of out of town artists are featured each year.
- Choreographers and cast must be 18 and older, or have an intergenerational cast and have received approval from Dance Source Houston.
- Those whose works were selected for inclusion in the past two consecutive Barnstorm Dance Fests (BDF 2024 & BDF 2025) are not eligible.
- An application fee of $15 must be paid for each performance submission. (The fee is waived for individuals and organizations with a current Dance Source Houston membership as of the submission date.)
Work Specifics
Timeline
- Tuesday, April 14 – Program A performance – 7:30pm
- Wednesday, April 15 – Program B performance – 7:30pm
- Thursday, April 16 – Program C performance – 7:30pm
- Friday, April 17 – Program A performance – 7:30pm
- Saturday, April 18 – Program B performance 5:00pm // Program C performance – 7:30pm
Live performance works selected are performed twice during the festival and receive a $300 stipend. All Barnstorm artists (choreographers and performers) can attend festival classes and performance at no cost.
Film Application
Eligibility
- Artists whose works, either film or live performance, were included in the past 2 consecutive festivals (2024 & 2025) are ineligible for 2026 consideration. We encourage you to apply next year for the 2027 festival.
- Submissions from choreographers and filmmakers working in all dance forms are encouraged.
- A $10 application fee is required for each film submission. (The fee is waived for current DSH members using a promo code.)
Work Specifics
Time Limit: Films should be 3-10 minutes in length, including any credits.
Status: Applicants should submit complete works. Works in progress will not be considered.
Timeline
- Tuesday, April 14 – Program A performance – 7:30pm
- Wednesday, April 15 – Program B performance – 7:30pm
- Thursday, April 16 – Program C performance – 7:30pm
- Friday, April 17 – Program A performance – 7:30pm
- Saturday, April 18 – Program B performance 5:00pm // Program C performance – 7:30pm
Films selected will receive a $100 honorarium.
Barnstorm is a whirlwind week celebrating the depth, breadth, and diversity of dance from Greater Houston and beyond. With live performances, dance films, workshops, artist talks, receptions, and more, the festival offers a full schedule for dancers, dance makers and dance lovers. Barnstorm features a wide range of dance styles each year, with past festival programs including aerial, Bharatanatyam, contemporary, flamenco, tap, and more. The festival is curated each year by a different panel of dance community members.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the festival?
Barnstorm 2026 runs April 13-18 at Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston.
Do choreographers / companies receive a stipend if they are selected?
Yes! Live performance works will receive $300 and film makers will receive $100.
All festival artists (choreographers and performers) can attend all Barnstorm classes and workshops and no cost. Festival artists are also able to attend the other programs they are not in at a $1 ticket charge plus the mandatory venue processing fee of $5.
What is the festival format?
The format includes 3 unique programs that are each presented twice during the festival week. Artist panels, workshops, and social events are also scheduled throughout the festival.
Does Barnstorm feature only specific types of dance?
Past festival lineups have included a wide range of dance forms including aerial, ballet, breaking, contemporary, flamenco, Kathak, modern, tango, tap, and more.
How is the festival curated?
Each year a panel of community members selects the companies and choreographers to be featured. Panelists are tasked with crafting a festival program that showcases the breadth, depth, and diversity of dance from Greater Houston and beyond.
Is the festival open to non-Houston area applicants?
Applicants do not have to be Houston area residents. A select number of out-of-town artists are featured each year.
FESTIVAL ONLY
PROGRAM A
April 29 & May 2* @ 7:30pm
Ashley Clos
Fabio Liberti
Persi Mey
Violet Moon
Ananya A. Nair
Margo Stutts Toombs
Nejla Yatkin
PROGRAM B
April 30* @ 7:30pm & May 3 @ 5:30pm
Anna Bauer
Jessica Boone
Lindsay Cortner
Andrea González
Paty Lorena Solórzano
Payge Lecakes
LaKesha Sowell
PROGRAM C
May 1 & 3* @ 7:30pm
Mark Aguilar
Shelby Green
Jack Kloecker
Adele Nickel
Ad Deum Dance Company
Kybele Dance Theater
Sea Legs Dance
Bold indicate 2024-2025 Dance Source Houston Artists In Residence.
Italics indicate a film work by the artist.
* indicates a facilitated artist talk will follow the performance.
TICKETS
TICKETS:
$25 single program ticket
$65 3-program pass
Program A
Program B
Program C
2025 Festival Workshop Series
Consent in Partnership: Honoring Choice in Improvisational Movement w/ Violet Moon
Thursday, May 1 // 10:30am-12:00pm
Graham-Based Modern w/ Randall Flinn
Friday, May 2 // 10:30am-12:00pm
Improvisation Workshop w/ Seda Aybay
Saturday, May 3 // 10:30am-12:00pm
Contemporary Dance Technique w/ Michael Crotty
Saturday, May 3 // 12:30-2:00pm
MATCH, 3400 Main Street
Pay-what-you-can sliding scale pricing.
Pre-registration required.
ALWAYS ACTIVE Section
What is Barnstorm Dance Fest?
Barnstorm Dance Fest celebrates the breadth, depth, and diversity of dance in Greater Houston and beyond. The festival showcases the vibrancy of dance in Houston and provides audiences with an exciting sampling of dance genres. Begun in 2015, Barnstorm includes three unique programs and showcases more than 20 works annually, including live performance and dance on film, as well as workshops, artist panel discussions, and more. The festival features dancemakers from our city, region, and across the country, highlighting emerging and established dancemakers working in a wide range of styles. The festival is curated each year by a different panel of dance community members.
Your questions answered
BARNSTORM FAQs
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Past Festivals Section
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