How to Apply

The application period will begin in May and close in July 2026.

All eligible applications will be reviewed before the end of October. The selection of Aerowaves Twenty artists will be finalised in the week following the Partners meeting, and the successful candidates will be notified by email by mid November.

'Sirens' by Ermira Goro with Adonis Vais and Chara Kotsali © Archlabyrinth Ermira Goro

Why Apply to Aerowaves?

Reach a network

Everyone who applies to Aerowaves has the chance to have their work programmed by the partners of the network, whether or not they are selected as Aerowaves artists. Around 100 performance opportunities are guaranteed by the partners and supported by Aerowaves each year.

Exposure for your work

Should you be selected as one of the Aerowaves Twenty, your work will be promoted by Aerowaves via its website for one year through an artist profile, with images, video and press coverage all in one place.

Promotional Opportunities

As one of the Aerowaves Twenty, you will be able to announce your forthcoming performances in the Aerowaves calendar and we will share this through our networks and social media.

Spring Forward

You may be selected to perform your work at our Spring Forward Festival.

If at first…

If you are not selected in one year, it is worth applying again (with a different work) in subsequent years. This can help to build recognition and understanding for your work, especially if you are a very new choreographer.

Eligibility Criteria

For further queries, please contact us at info@aerowaves.org

Selection Criteria

These criteria have guided the decision making of the Partners since 1996

The work is propelled by a good idea
Choreographed with an originality motivated by this idea
Which has the confidence to omit the superfluous
With a clear and sturdy structure
Danced with clarity, verve, commitment and assurance
That will look good presented under limited technical conditions
From a company that has not toured much abroad
But whose experience might be enriched through Aerowaves
And that will have a future

Application tips

Read the eligibility criteria thoroughly before putting your application together
Get your application in as early as possible
Make sure the credits and the two texts (Description of the work and Biography) are written clearly and concisely in English.
Give yourself plenty of time to upload your video to Vimeo – technical hitches cause stress, especially at the last minute!
Make sure the video of the work you are submitting is of the highest possible quality and correct length
If you are performing the work you are submitting, before the Aerowaves Annual Meeting (19 – 22 October 2025), let your national Aerowaves representatives know, they will try to attend.

Providing your Video on Vimeo

Please upload your video to Vimeo or YouTube (preferably in HD) and include the link in your application form. If you have a Vimeo Plus account please enable ‘download’ in the settings so we can download it. If you don’t then upload a version to Vimeo that is less than 500MB (to avoid paying a subscription), and send a bigger file (if available) via a service like We Transfer, to info@aerowaves.org. Same process if you are using YouTube, send a copy of the file to info@aerowaves.org. The ideal dimensions are 1920 x 1080 in HD, but please keep your file under 2GB – larger files will not be accepted. There must be a version of the work online, and we must also have a copy on file.
Use the privacy settings if you do not wish it to be public, but include the password in your application form.
Please include a 100 word biography and a 100 word description about the work in the description box of your Vimeo or YouTube upload. Please include all credits. We use your links to share with Aerowaves Partners before our Annual Meeting in October so they can do their homework!

Tips for Making Your Video

Since our selection process is assisted by watching a video recording, it’s really important that you think about how your work will come across.

The video should be a fairly simple record of a public performance of the work from beginning to end
If you are applying with an edited version of a longer work, the video you provide must be of the shortened version. This version must be available for performance
It should include close-ups and wide shots – think about how best to represent the work in terms of details / angles / capturing the scale
Promotional videos are not acceptable, nor are videos of any work other than the one with which you are applying to Aerowaves
Please keep the size of the file to under 2GB

Tips for Writing your texts

Bear in mind the text you will provide will also reflect your work. Thus, make sure you write clearly and concisely in English and that each text is no longer than 100 words. Make sure all these texts are suitable to be published.

Your work’s Description must be a marketing copy, which – in case your work is selected – will be used on the website and the programme notes.
Your Biography must reflect your career trajectory.
You may find further communication tips on 360 Communicating Dance.
A good quality copy will always help to put your work and your career trajectory in context and make it more attractive.

After you Apply

After you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation email (this is not automated so it will take a few days)
All eligible applications will be reviewed at the annual Aerowaves Partner meeting at the end of October
A selection of Aerowaves Twenty artists will be finalised by a vote in the week following the Aerowaves Partner meeting
Selected candidates will be notified by email and the Aerowaves Twenty will be published online
If you are selected as one of the Aerowaves Twenty you will be programmed in Spring Forward, and may be offered performance invitations by our Partners.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applicants, we cannot offer individual feedback on the works submitted