2026 Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition

Read full call for choreographers here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQLf3xPcO6YtHINxHDSC7VufGoDrd6HVklYaVVhoYYn6bXGLaP53DVaMzBjhTVJA5SgS0tjw5Ng9_h3/pub?urp=gmail_link

About

The Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition honors the legacy of Maggie Allesee, whose visionary support of dance and the performing arts continues to impact artists and communities throughout Michigan and beyond. This competition is presented in partnership with the Michigan Dance Council and the Oakland Dance Festival. The Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition is generously supported by the Strum Allesee Family Foundation.

Call for Choreographers

Choreographers across Michigan are invited to submit original work for consideration in the 2026 Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition. This distinguished opportunity recognizes excellence, innovation, and artistic voice in choreography and screendance creation. The competition features two adjudicated categories: live performance and screendance. Submissions are viewed by a panel of professionals from the field. Selected finalists in each category will be presented during the Oakland Dance Festival on Friday, November 20, 2026. Live Performance finalists are expected to perform the selected work in the evening concert for a second panel of adjudicators who will determine award recipients. Any tech rehearsal will occur earlier in the day and be arranged with finalists.

For further information regarding the choreography competition contact:

FilmFreeway Submission Questions: Bridget Vander Hoff, bridgetmvanderhoff@gmail.com

Choreography/Adjudication Questions: Andi Salazar, andisalazar.c08@gmail.com

Awards & Prizes

Following the live concert adjudication, one outstanding work from each category will be selected to receive the Maggie Allesee Choreography Award:

1st Place Live Performance: $1,000
1st Place Screendance: $500

Additional Opportunities

Live Performance award recipient is invited to perform the piece at Michigan Youth Dance Festival (MYDF) on Wednesday, May 19, 2027 in Holland, Michigan. The choreographer is also invited to choreograph an original piece for MDC’s Youth Honors Dance Ensemble, which is also performed at MYDF. (Stipend is available)

Finalist works will be streamed on the Michigan Dance Council website for MDC members from November 20-December 2. During this time Michigan Dance Council members will be able to vote to determine a Screendance Popular Vote winner (no monetary award).

Rules & Terms

Application Requirements

All application materials must be completed online by Sunday, October 18, 2026.

The maximum length for performance is limited to 6-minutes. Both a completed or an excerpt of a longer work may be submitted. Works exceeding the time limit will be disqualified. Curtain calls/bows are not included in the 6-minute limit.

Applicants/choreographers must be Michigan residents.

Choreographers and dancers must be at least 18 years of age.

All genres and styles of dance can be submitted.

Adjudication may include consideration of the following:
Originality and creative vision
Choreographic craft and compositional structure
Performance quality and embodiment
Artistic clarity and intention
Relationship between movement, music, design, and/or film elements
Emotional, cultural, historical, or conceptual depth
Effective use of the screendance medium (for screendance submissions)

Please consider how the work demonstrates intentional use of camera, editing, framing, and/or location as artistic elements. The film should be created specifically for the screen, using cinematic choices to enhance the choreography rather than simply recording a live performance.

Previous Maggie Allesee Choreography Award winning works are not eligible for resubmission within 6 years of receiving the award.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All adjudication decisions are final.

Live Performance & Screendance Video Submission Requirements

Live Performance and Screendance submissions must be submitted through FilmFreeway by Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Applicants should upload:
A completed screendance film or performance recording (maximum length: 6 minutes)
Required application information and credits through the FilmFreeway platform
A high-quality viewing file suitable for adjudication and potential public screening for screendance submissions

IMPORTANT! All identifying information should be included ONLY within the FilmFreeway application materials, NOT within the videos. To ensure an anonymous adjudication process, submitted footage must NOT contain:
Choreographer names
Performer names
Studio, company, or school names
Credits, titles, or identifying narrative text