DFM2027- Vetrina: Call for Malta-Based Choreographers & Dance Artists
DANCE FESTIVAL MALTA 2027
OPEN CALL FOR MALTA-BASED CHOREOGRAPHERS & DANCE ARTISTS
VETRINA
22–25 July 2027 | Valletta, Malta
Application Deadline: 29 January 2027
A window for your work. A platform for your voice. An opportunity to be seen.
Dance Festival Malta invites Malta-based choreographers, dance artists and companies to apply for Vetrina, a dedicated showcase within the sixth edition of Dance Festival Malta.
Vetrina, meaning showcase or shop window, offers a space for local choreographic voices to present their work, share their artistic vision and connect with audiences and international dance professionals.
We are looking for distinctive movement languages, bold ideas and original choreographic perspectives that reflect the diversity, creativity and evolving identity of Malta's dance scene.
Whether your work is poetic, provocative, intimate, experimental or interdisciplinary, Vetrina is an opportunity to bring your creation into the spotlight, engage in artistic exchange and become part of a wider conversation about the future of dance.
Your work deserves a stage. Your voice deserves to be seen.
THE OPEN CALL
Dance Festival Malta welcomes proposals across all dance genres, from traditional and classical forms to contemporary, urban, experimental and interdisciplinary practices. Dance and movement must remain at the heart of the work.
We encourage original creations that demonstrate artistic excellence, choreographic clarity, innovation and a compelling relationship between movement, concept and performance.
Works engaging with identity, culture, coexistence, communication, social and environmental challenges, and contemporary realities are particularly welcome.
We particularly encourage proposals conceived for unconventional and non-traditional performance spaces, where the existing character and atmosphere of the space become part of the artistic experience. These spaces will be presented in their raw, natural state, with festival-provided sound support and minimal lighting. Artists/choreographers are therefore invited to consider how their work can respond to, interact with and transform the space through movement, rather than relying on conventional staging or elaborate technical production.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Malta-based dance artists, choreographers and companies with a valid Maltese VAT Number
Artists aged 18 and over with experience in dance performance.
Independent practitioners and established or emerging companies.
Eligible proposals include:
Works in progress: supported by rehearsal or development footage.
Completed works: previously performed.
Reactivated or reimagined works: creations being revisited, deconstructed or adapted.
PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES & ARTIST FEES
Selected artists will receive the following performance fees, inclusive of VAT:
Category | Duration | Fee |
Solo | Up to 7 minutes | €500 |
Duet | Up to 10 minutes | €800 |
Group (4+ performers) | Up to 12 minutes | €1,000 |
The Artistic Director reserves the right to programme works in shared bills and determine the final performance schedule and venues, which could be unconventional spaces.
WHAT VETRINA OFFERS
A professional performance platform within Dance Festival Malta.
Exposure to international curators, programmers, festival directors and visiting artists.
Promotion through DFM's website, social media and advertising channels.
Professional event photography and inclusion in the festival highlights video.
Free access to festival performances and workshops/masterclasses.
Opportunities for artistic exchange, networking, feedback and post-performance Q&As.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated according to:
Artistic excellence and choreographic clarity.
Originality, innovation and a distinctive artistic voice.
Strength and realisation of the artistic concept and creative ideas.
Effective and imaginative use of dance and movement language.
Potential to engage audiences and foster dialogue.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an online interview.
ESSENTIAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must submit the following:
Artist or dance company name.
Title of the proposed performance.
Email
Contact Number
Performance category: Solo, Duet or Group.
Valid Maltese VAT number.
Synopsis of Work (maximum 150 words).
Choreographer's biography and biographies of artistic collaborators, including relevant headshot photos
Dancers' biographies (maximum 150 words per dancer).
Full artistic credits, including performers, choreographer, collaborators, composer, director and other relevant contributors.
Identification document: a copy of a Maltese ID card for Maltese nationals or a valid local residence document, as applicable.
Video footage of the proposed work, submitted through a SwissTransfer link (made available for 30 days).
Please ensure that all information is complete and video links are accessible with the maximum expiry date possible.
TECHNICAL & LOGISTICAL CONDITIONS
Selected applicants are required to observe the following:
A minimal and adaptable technical setup is encouraged. For works in progress, an outline of anticipated technical requirements must be provided.
Stage rehearsals will take place at the designated performance venue on the day of the performance. No additional rehearsal space will be provided.
Artists are responsible for their own props, musical instruments and any special technical requirements beyond the festival's standard provision.
Performances may take place at Valletta Campus Theatre, Spazju Kreattiv, Manoel Theatre or selected site-specific venues, as determined by the Artistic Director.
Artists must secure all necessary permissions for music and copyrighted materials. Copyright fees will not be covered by the festival.
Selected artists must be available for the full festival period, 22–25 July 2027, and participate in relevant networking, feedback and Q&A sessions.
Selected artists must submit all requested marketing materials by 28 February 2027 and their final technical rider by 30 March 2027.
IMPORTANT DATES & NOTES
Application Deadline: 29 January 2027, noon
Selected Artists Notified: February 2027
Deadline for Marketing Materials: 28 February 2027
Deadline for Final Technical Riders: 30 March 2027
Dance Festival Malta: 22–25 July 2027
Please ensure that all information provided is complete and accurate, and that any video links submitted are valid, accessible, and set to the longest possible expiry period.
Please note that failure to provide a valid VAT number or the required Maltese residence documentation at the time of application will result in the automatic disqualification of your application.
HOW TO APPLY
Submit your complete application, video link and required documentation through the dedicated application form by clicking the link provided at the end of this form.
For enquiries or technical assistance, please send an email on dfm@festivals.mt.
VETRINA
Show your work. Share your vision. Be part of Malta's dance story.
We look forward to discovering the choreographic voices and creative visions shaping the future of dance in Malta.
