St. Louis Contemporary Dance Festival

July 10th - 12th, 2026

COCA's Staenberg Performance Lab - St. Louis, MO

Returning for a third year! St. Louis Contemporary Dance Festival is an annual event hosted by RESILIENCE Dance Company connecting contemporary dance-makers across the country for performance, exchange, and dialogue with the St. Louis community. This festival, curated by Emily Haussler and Holly Seitz Marchant, aims to celebrate the risk-takers in contemporary dance and highlight both emerging and established independent choreographers around the country.

2026 Festival Information for Choreographers

Submission Period: Jan. 10th - Feb. 28th, 2026

Notification: April 1st, 2026

Application Fee: $25

Maximum Piece Length: 12min

Performances: Friday, July 10th and Saturday, July 11th at 7:30pm

Tech Slots: Thursday, July 9th starting at 4pm - Saturday, July 11th at 6pm. 30-40min

Master Classes: 4 available, $75/class teaching stipend

12 - 18 total curated artists anticipated

Accepted Artists Receive:

Artist Stipend: $200 (local), $400, (traveling)

Professional photo and video

Up to 5 hours of free rehearsal space in St. Louis through studio partners

Submit your work below!

Choreographer Submissions

Feedback from Previous Participants

"The STL Contemporary Dance Festival was superbly organized and had the work and value of the artists being presented at the center. As a choreographer and performer traveling to present my work, we felt welcomed, supported, and that our unique artistry was valued. The events fostered a communal environment amongst the artists and gave everyone multiple opportunies to connect and foster future collaboration. It was an excellent experience, and we hope to be back and support this festival in other ways in the future!"