Dance Source Houston is accepting applications for dance works to be presented on the October 7th 2025 Mind The Gap performance. Choreographers may participate in only 1 Mind The Gap performance during the current season, which runs August - December 2025. 

Now in the program's ninth year, Mind The Gap showcases works by DSH members from all dance genres. Creating performance opportunities for local dancemakers, Mind The Gap also provides participants with support in production planning and management. The program, a collaboration between DSH and MATCH, is designed to support artists who seek additional support and guidance to improve their production skills.

Works submitted should be 5-15 minutes in length and may be from any genre or style. Applicants may submit a work in progress, new work, or a previously presented work, with rehearsals starting before the initial production meeting. Mind The Gap is intended to serve choreographers at all career stages and at all points in the development of a work.

A maximum of 6 choreographers will be selected per performance, on a first-come, first-serve basis for those who successfully submit a complete application. Incomplete applications will be declined. Applications for each date will close once 6 complete applications from current DSH members are received. Applications will be reviewed for completion weekly, and applicants will be notified on an ongoing basis of their acceptance.

Once selected, each participating choreographer must submit a $75 production fee. Each choreographer will receive a share of the ticketed income from the performance. Choreographers will receive a wide-angle video of their work from DSH and have the option to purchase photos for a fee.

Qualifications:

• Choreographer(s) must be 18 or older and based in the Greater Houston region, which is limited to the counties of  Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Walker, and Waller.
• Cast members must be 18 years or older. (Intergenerational casts will be considered.) Please contact DSH at danceinfo@dancesourcehouston.org before applying for more information and to confirm your eligibility.
• Proposals from all dance genres are encouraged.
• Applicants may submit a work in progress, new work, or a previously presented work. It is expected that rehearsals will have started prior to the initial production meeting to ensure the ability to have the initial production items ready by that meeting.
• Choreographers may participate in only 1 Mind The Gap performance during the current season, which runs August - December 2025. Additional applications for September 9th, October 7th and December 2nd will open later this summer.
• Applicants must be current DSH members to be eligible to apply. Your application will be declined if your membership is not fully established before you submit your application. To become a member, visit our website.

Production Dates, Meetings & Deadlines

MTG 37 - October 7th  Performance

Monday August 11th, 2025 @ 7:00pm - Initial Production Meeting @ MATCH Offices

• Sign contract
• Submit $75 production fee
• Media release form filled out and submitted for all - choreographers and performers
• 10 - 30 sec. Videos of rehearsal excerpts
• Photos from rehearsal

Monday September 15th, 2025 @ 7:00pm – Final Production Meeting @ MATCH Offices

• Full run rehearsal video
• Cue Sheet
• Media files due (sound and video)
• Program information due

Monday October 6th, 2025 – Load In, Tech and Dress @ MATCH Box 2

• 9:00am - 11:00am Load In
• 11:30am - 4:00pm Spacing and Tech runs (individual time slots assigned, mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)
• 5:00pm - 7:00pm Dress rehearsal and notes (mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)

Tuesday October 7th, 2025 – Performance @ MATCH Box 2

• 6pm Call (mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)
• 7:30pm Curtain (mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)
• Post show reception on stage with audience

Dance Source Houston is accepting applications for dance works to be presented on the September 9th Mind The Gap performance. Choreographers may participate in only 1 Mind The Gap performance during the current season, which runs August - December 2025. Additional applications for October 7th and December 2nd will open later this summer.

Now in the program's ninth year, Mind The Gap showcases works by DSH members from all dance genres. Creating performance opportunities for local dancemakers, Mind The Gap also provides participants with support in production planning and management. The program, a collaboration between DSH and MATCH, is designed to support artists who seek additional support and guidance to improve their production skills.

Works submitted should be 5-15 minutes in length and may be from any genre or style. Applicants may submit a work in progress, new work, or a previously presented work, with rehearsals starting before the initial production meeting. Mind The Gap is intended to serve choreographers at all career stages and at all points in the development of a work.

A maximum of 6 choreographers will be selected per performance, on a first-come, first-serve basis for those who successfully submit a complete application. Incomplete applications will be declined. Applications for each date will close once 6 complete applications from current DSH members are received. Applications will be reviewed for completion weekly, and applicants will be notified on an ongoing basis of their acceptance.

Once selected, each participating choreographer must submit a $75 production fee. Each choreographer will receive a share of the ticketed income from the performance. Choreographers will receive a wide-angle video of their work from DSH and have the option to purchase photos for a fee.

Qualifications:

• Choreographer(s) must be 18 or older and based in the Greater Houston region, which is limited to the counties of  Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Walker, and Waller.
• Cast members must be 18 years or older. (Intergenerational casts will be considered.) Please contact DSH at danceinfo@dancesourcehouston.org before applying for more information and to confirm your eligibility.
• Proposals from all dance genres are encouraged.
• Applicants may submit a work in progress, new work, or a previously presented work. It is expected that rehearsals will have started prior to the initial production meeting to ensure the ability to have the initial production items ready by that meeting.
• Choreographers may participate in only 1 Mind The Gap performance during the current season, which runs August - December 2025. Additional applications for September 9th, October 7th and December 2nd will open later this summer.
• Applicants must be current DSH members to be eligible to apply. Your application will be declined if your membership is not fully established before you submit your application. To become a member, visit our website.
   

Production Dates, Meetings & Deadlines

MTG 36 - September 9th  Performance

Monday July 21st, 2025 @ 7:00pm - Initial Production Meeting @ MATCH Offices

• Sign contract
• Submit $75 production fee
• Media release form filled out and submitted for all - choreographers and performers
• 10 - 30 sec. Videos of rehearsal excerpts
• Photos from rehearsal

Monday August 18th, 2025 @ 7:00pm – Final Production Meeting @ MATCH Offices

• Full run rehearsal video
• Cue Sheet
• Media files due (sound and video)
• Program information due

Monday September 8th, 2025 – Load In, Tech and Dress @ MATCH Box 2

• 9:00am - 11:00am Load In (Choreographers are encouraged to attend)
• 11:30am - 4:00pm Spacing and Tech runs (individual time slots assigned, mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)
• 5:00pm - 7:00pm Dress rehearsal and notes (mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)

Tuesday September 9th, 2025 – Performance @ MATCH Box 2

• 6pm Call (mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)
• 7:30pm Curtain (mandatory for all - choreographer and performers)

Barnstorm Dance Fest 2026, presented by Dance Source Houston, will take place April 13 - 18 at MATCH - Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston. Applications for live performance works 5-12 minutes in length are being accepted from all genres of dance. Selected applicants will perform their work twice during the festival and will receive a $300 stipend. A separate application for dance films is open now via FilmFreeway. 

 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.

Time Limit: Proposed live performance works should be between 5 - 12 minutes in length.  Excerpts of longer works may be submitted. Works may be complete or in progress at time of submission.

Genre: Dance Source Houston encourages submissions from all genres of dance.

Application Deadline: Application, work samples and application fees must be received by 11:59pm CST on Friday, August 22, 2025.

Fee: An application fee of $15 must be paid for each submitted piece. Pay the application fee here. (The fee is waived for individuals and organizations with a current Dance Source Houston membership as of the submission date.)

Notification: Applicants will be notified of the panel’s decision in November 2025.

Barnstorm Dance 2026 Fest Event Schedule

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

 Barnstorm features 3 unique programs – A, B and C. The production schedule for April 13 - 18, 2026 has been set and can be found below. Please be aware that all 3 programs require participants to be present for rehearsals and performances at MATCH spanning a minimum of 3 days during the week of the festival. Review the schedule before submitting your application so that you can select which programs you and your cast are available for.

• Program A
   - Tech – Monday, April 13 between 9:00am and 1:00pm
   - Dress Rehearsal – Monday, April 13 - 1:30pm Call / 2:00pm Onstage Cast Meeting / 2:30pm Run (all performers must attend the dress rehearsal)
   - Performances – Tuesday, April 14 – 6:00pm Call / 7:30pm Curtain and Friday, April 17 – 5:30pm Call / 7:30pm Curtain
• Program B
   - Tech – Tuesday, April 14 between 9:00am and 1:00pm
   - Dress Rehearsal – Tuesday, April 14 – 1:30pm Call / 2:00pm Onstage Cast Meeting / 2:30pm Run (all performers must attend the dress rehearsal)
   - Performances – Wednesday, April 15 – 6:00pm Call / 7:30pm Curtain and Saturday, April 18 – 3:30pm Call / 5:00pm Curtain
• Program C
   - Tech – Wednesday, April 15 between 9:00am and 1:00pm
   - Dress Rehearsal – Wednesday, April 15 – 1:30pm Call / 2:00pm Onstage Cast Meeting / 2:30pm Run (all performers must attend the dress rehearsal
   - Performances – Thursday, April 16 – 6:00pm Call / 7:30pm Curtain and Saturday, April 18 – 6:00pm Call / 7:30pm Curtain

Dance Source Houston's Artist-in-Residence program is open to Greater Houston dance artists of all genres. Artists for 2025/2026 will be selected based upon their desire to push themselves and their work to new levels by taking risks and maximizing their time in the residency. The residency will culminate with performances of new work created during Barnstorm Dance Fest in April 2026. A maximum of three artists will be selected for the AIR cohort.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 season. The deadline to apply is July 11th, 2025. Round 2 interviews will be scheduled between June 21st - 25th 2025 and all applicants will be notified of final decisions in early August.

Residency artists will receive:

• Access to professional development workshops
• Production and marketing plan assistance
• Grant application writing assistance
• Guaranteed performance spot in Barnstorm Dance Fest 2026
• $2,500 Residency stipend (May be used for studio/rehearsal space, artistic fees, costuming, additional professional/ creative development, etc.)

This year Dance Source Houston strongly encourages applications from solo artists and choreographers working with small casts to apply to the 2025-26 Artists In Residence cohort. 

Due to a projected reduction in funding to support this program, stipend amounts are lower than recent rounds. We recognize that our AIR program requires a high level of commitment and obligation on behalf of the participating artists.

While the monetary stipend has been reduced for this round, we strongly believe that our program’s non-financial resources, including professional development, mentorship, and cohort experience, provide sustained value that extends beyond the residency term.

Dance Source Houston remains steadfast in our commitment to compensating artists and maintaining transparency around our actions.

Please note that this residency program does not have a prescribed amount of studio time or an assigned studio space. Through cohort learning, we have diverted more of the program resources directly to the artist to allow them more agency in crafting a space solution that works best for their individual residency goals.

Residency artists will be required to:

• Attend monthly meetings and feedback sessions with other resident artists October 2025 - May 2026 scheduled for Sunday afternoons 3p - 6p at Houston Met Dance. While dates are TBD, applicants should have regular availability on Sundays between 3p and 6p.
• Present at Open AIR Sunday February 1st 2026  3p - 6p
• Attend SPARK (DSH Fundraiser and honors reception) February 21st 2026 7p - 10p
• Execute deadlines on production/marketing plan, press release, project budget, and other residency-related documents
• Create 10-15 minutes of new work to present at Barnstorm Dance Fest in April 2026
• Be available for tech/production week for culminating performances April 12 - 18, 2026

Eligibility

• Must be a dance artist currently based in the Greater Houston region.
• Must be 18 or older and not currently enrolled in an academic program.
• Artists must be current Dance Source Houston members to be eligible to apply. If selected, membership must be at the Independent Choreographer level or applicant must be artistic leadership of a Dance Organization member company.
• Artist may not have previously been a DSH Artist In Residence.

Former AIRs include Shanon Adame, Joel Aguilera, Jacquelyne Jay Boe, Adam Castaneda, Ashley Clos, Roberta Paixao Cortes, Keeley Dunnam, Amy Elizabeth, Ayan Felix, Rivkah French, Lindsay Gary, Kirstin Grbic, Laura Gutierrez Laura Harrell, Lisa Harris, Jasmine Hearn, Loren Holmes, Ashley Horn, Abijan Johnson, Autumn Knight, Ty Lewis, Jennifer Mabus, Tempest McLendon, Alisa Mittin, Tarika Nath, Adele Nickel, Kemi OG, Kate Rash, Joel Rivera, Lauren Serrano, Jakari Sherman, Paty Lorena Solórzano, Kalpana Subbarao, Jadd Tank, Felicia Thomas, Heather vonReichbauer, Lori Yuill and Uwazi Zamani.