CONDER/dance presents :

Tiny Dances 2026

April 10, 2026

Tempe Center for the Arts

Tempe, Arizona

This year's festival will be presented in the round.

Danceable space will be 4 ft x 4 ft' with the audience seated on 4 sides. 

Deadline for Submission: March 1, 2026

Artists will be notified of final selections by March 10, 2026

CURATION PANEL

Carley Conder : Carley Conder is Artistic Director of CONDER/dance, founded in Arizona in 2003. Based in Tempe, Carley has invested her time and talents towards providing opportunities for contemporary dance artists in Arizona. CONDER/dance enjoys artist-in-residence status at Tempe Center for the Arts and Carley’s recent projects include creative collaborations with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Wonderspaces.  Carley’s choreographic work has been presented at Dixon Place (NYC), Center for Performance Research (Brooklyn), Martha Graham Studios (NYC), John Ryan Theater (Brooklyn), and the Diavolo Space (Los Angeles). She was profiled in "Phoenix's 100 Creatives" by the Phoenix NewTimes and chosen as “Best Dancer of 2015” by the Phoenix NewTimes. Carley has been the recipient of arts funding through the City of Tempe, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Target Arts Grants and the Consulate General of Israel.  Carley is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dance in the School of Music, Dance and Theater at Arizona State University.

Additional Curators TBA

DURATION OF WORK:

The maximum allowable length for each piece is 5 minutes.

FORMAT OF PERFORMANCES:

Audience is seated on all four sides.  Please design your works to be viewed in the round.  

APPLICATION FAQs:

HOW ARE WORKS SELECTED? A panel composed of choreographers, educators, and dance professionals from around the country will carefully evaluate artist submissions. Selection is based on criteria such as creativity, originality, thematic development, choreographic structure, technical execution, diversity, and historical, social, and cultural relevance. The Artistic Director will curate showcases that reflect these recommendations, with an emphasis on equity, representation, and a range of local, regional, and national pieces. Additional considerations include time and space constraints, the number of performers, and the overall tone. The festival seeks to present a lineup that is engaging, diverse, and of the highest artistic standard. Despite this, many excellent works cannot be included due to limitations. If your piece is not selected, we encourage you to apply again in the future.

CAN I SUBMIT MULTIPLE PIECES? Yes, multiple submissions are welcome. Please note that each work must be submitted separately, along with its corresponding application fee.

WHAT KIND OF WORK ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Tiny Dances features a broad range of contemporary dance forms. We encourage you to interpret this in your own way, as the definition is intentionally flexible.

CAN I REQUEST A SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE TIME? No, we are unable to accommodate special requests for performance or rehearsal times. By submitting your work, you agree to perform in any of the scheduled shows and to attend both a spacing and dress rehearsal prior to your performance.

CAN MY VIDEO SUBMISSION BE FROM A REHEARSAL? Yes, both rehearsal and performance videos are accepted.

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF SELECTED? You will be informed of your submission’s status via the email you include on the Submittable application. Be sure to check your spam folder. If selected, you will be required to promptly accept the invitation. Failure to respond within the specified timeframe may result in your spot being offered to another artist. We highly encourage those who are not selected to apply again next year.

WHY WASN’T MY WORK SELECTED? Not being selected is not a reflection of the quality of your work. Unfortunately, limited space and time mean we cannot accept every submission. Final programming decisions take into account factors such as the tone, length, number of performers, and geographic location of the company. The process is akin to assembling a puzzle, balancing time and space considerations to create a cohesive concert. We do not offer feedback on unselected works, but we hope you will reapply next year for another chance to showcase your artistry.

DO PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A STIPEND? Yes, participating companies will receive a stipend. However, participants should be prepared to cover their own expenses for attending the festival, such as accommodation, meals, transportation, parking, and other associated costs.

APPLICATION FEE

Application Fee: 

$20 General Fee

All Artists selected for Tiny Dances will receive a $150 honorarium.

No Production Fees are required if selected.

2026 ARTIST REQUIREMENTS

1. No public performances in Arizona of work selected between March 1 - April 10, 2026. 
2. Promotional materials and efforts as requested by Tiny Dances administrative staff, submitted in a timely manner. 
3. Technical and dress rehearsal on April 10, 2026.
4. Production Showing on April 1, 2026. This is a mandatory showing for all artists. This is a video showing of the work in its current form.  Studio showings are acceptable. 
5. DISCLAIMER: CONDER/dance reserves the right to remove a work from Tiny Dances programming following the Production Showing if the work is deemed unready for performance, if the work has deviated significantly from original submission and if  requirements have not been adhered to. 

Tiny Dance ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE:

• One in-person performance at Tempe Center for the Arts – Sculpture Garden.
• Tech time and a full dress rehearsal on stage.
• Performance honorarium of $150.
• Covered costs of production including theater rental, lighting design, marketing, public relations, technical direction and program administration.

Tiny Dance Artists 2026 RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Travel Expenses for out of town artists
• Lodging for out of town artists
• Technical needs beyond what Tempe Center for the Arts includes in standard rental fee. 

Please email conderdance@gmail.com with any additional questions.