Choreography Contest

XXXI INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL OF THE CANARY ISLANDS

MASDANZA, The International Contemporary Dance Festival of the Canary Islands, announces the XXXI Choreography Contest as part of the 31st Edition of the Festival, to be held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, from October 1 to October 24, 2026.

The 31MASDANZA Contests will take place on the following dates:

Solo & Choreography Contests. Part I:	Thursday, October 15, 2026
Solo & Choreography Contests. Part II:	Friday, October 16, 2026
Awards Ceremony and Winners’ Gala:	Saturday, October 17, 2026

Arrival, Stay and Departure Days for the Festival:

The Contests will take place during the week from Monday, October 12 to Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Once the selection process has been completed and companies have confirmed their participation, each participant will be individually informed of their arrival date (Tuesday, October 13 or Wednesday, October 14). All companies will depart on Sunday, October 18.

1.- PRIZES CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST

First Prize	6.000,00 €
Second Prize	4.000,00 €
Audience Prize	2.000,00 €
Acorán Award*	1.500,00 €

*This award is unique and valid for both the Choreography Contest and the Solo Contest.

IMPORTANT:

IN COMPLIANCE WITH SPANISH LAW, PRIZES MAY ONLY BE PAID TO INDIVIDUALS (NATURAL PERSONS) AND NOT TO ASSOCIATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS OF ANY KIND.

Prizes are subject to taxes required by Spanish legislation. The personal income tax (IRPF) withholding applicable in 2026 is generally 15% for Spanish citizens engaged in professional activities. For participants residing in the EU, Iceland, and Norway, the withholding is 19%, and for all other taxpayers it is 24%.

2.- SPECIAL PRIZES (PERFORMANCES AND ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES)

The Organisation works with programmers and with national and international festivals and institutions in order to include the participants in their Programmes or Artistic Residencies.

In any case the programmers will select the piece / pieces that better suit their interests.

MASDANZA maintains Collaboration Agreements with the following national and international festivals and institutions:

Yokohama Dance Collection (Yokohama, Japan)

CONT.ACT (Singapore)

New Dance for Asia [NDA] (Seoul, South Korea)

DCDC [Dancer’s Career Development Center] (Jeju Island, South Korea)

Stray Birds Dance Platform (Taipei, Taiwan)

Hong Kong Dance Exchange (Hong Kong)

Macau CDE Springboard (Macau)

Festival Danza Urbana (Bologna, Italy)

BODY.RADICAL International Performing Arts Biennial (Budapest, Hungary)

Derida Dance Center (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Interplay Contemporary Dance Festival (Turin, Italy)

Dancehaus Più (Milan, Italy)

American Dance Festival (Durham, N.C., United States of America)

Centro Coreográfico de La Gomera (San Sebastián de La Gomera, Spain)

ACIELOABIERTO Festival Network (Spain)

Malta Dance Festival (Malta)

Cádiz en Danza (Cádiz, Spain)

Danza Metropolitana (Catalonia, Spain)

BIDE Barcelona International Dance Exchange (Barcelona, Spain)

Mariemma Royal Professional Dance Conservatory (Madrid, Spain)

Sala Insular de Teatro (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

3.- PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

Participation is open to choreographers of any nationality. Eligible works must be original pieces created and premiered from January 1, 2024 onward.

MASDANZA includes duets within the Choreography Contest; therefore, choreography works must have a minimum of TWO (2) dancers and a maximum of SIX (6).

Selected pieces MUST BE PERFORMED BY THE SAME DANCERS appearing in the application video that was selected by the Selection Committee.

If, due to exceptional circumstances, the choreographer needs to replace a performer, they must notify the Festival in advance and SUBMIT A VIDEO OF THE PIECE WITH THE NEW DANCER for approval by the Selection Committee.

The duration of the work must be no less than TEN minutes and no longer than FIFTEEN minutes.

Works not respecting these time limits may be disqualified.

VIDEOS MUST SHOW THE PIECE IN A REHEARSAL STUDIO OR THEATER. Applications with outdoor or unconventional space recordings will not be considered.

Selection Process

Applicants must submit the full recording of the piece (uncut and in a fixed wide shot), including all performers, through the web link provided at the end of these Guidelines.

The recording must include the final version of the piece and all scenic elements.

Recordings that do not meet adequate viewing standards may be rejected.

Once selected, NO CHANGES TO THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE CHOREOGRAPHY OR SCENOGRAPHY WILL BE ACCEPTED.

TRAVEL GRANTS

The Organization will cover accommodation expenses for all participants and will provide a Travel Grant to help cover airfare costs for each selected group, according to the following maximum amounts (after applicable tax withholdings depending on the place of origin):

Canary Islands (except Gran Canaria):	300,00 €
Europe (including mainland Spain, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla):	900,00 €
Rest of the World:	1.500,00 €

In order to receive the travel grant, each soloist or group must issue an invoice for the corresponding amount after deducting the applicable deductions. They must also present proof of purchase of the plane, boat or train tickets.

The IRPF withholding tax for Spanish citizens applicable in 2026 is 15% for professional activities. For those participants resident in EU, Iceland and Norway it is 19% and for all other taxpayers it is 24%.

CONDITIONS FOR THE PAYMENT OF TRAVEL GRANTS:

If the participant(s) succeed in getting institutions from their region or country of origin to finance their air, boat or train tickets, the Travel Grant will become invalid and will not be paid.

If this is not the case, the cost of the tickets will be paid on presentation of the corresponding invoice or proof of payment. The maximum payment will be that established for the corresponding Travel Bag. The corresponding deductions will be applied.

The Travel Grant is an amount fixed for each soloist or group to help with the purchase of tickets for their travel to the Festival, it is an amount per soloist or group, not per participant.

Any special situation in this respect will be resolved by MASDANZA in the last instance.

The period for the reception of videos and documentation is from
MARCH 04 to APRIL 17, 2026.

The Organization will notify the results of the selection beginning on
MAY 08, 2025.

Winners in the CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST cannot participate in the same category the following year. They can, however, apply to participate in the Solo Contest.

4.- JURY

The Jury will consist of national and international professionals and experts in the stage and performing arts and it reserves the right to declare any prize void (except the Audience Prize).

If the Jury considers awarding a prize ex aequo, the amount will be divided among the pieces concerned.

The Jury and the Selection Committee will apply the following assessment criteria to the choreographic pieces taking part: Originality, innovation and risk in the design, realisation of the choreographic ideas, use of the choreographic and dance languages, use of the stage and its elements as well as the use of the music.

5.- TERMS AND GENERAL CONDITIONS

31MASDANZA will provide a technician to reproduce the effects in the performances in accordance to what has been used in the technical rehearsals.

Due to technical, space and time limitations, the lighting effects and the set must be minimal. The elements of the set should be able to be put in place quickly. Elements of large dimensions or difficult to install must be avoided. This material must be provided and transported by the participants themselves.

Due to the specific limitations of the theatre, no element may be hung from the poles or at the back.

Pieces where water or other liquids are spilt or where elements need to be cleaned afterwards, therefore disrupting the smooth running of the programme, will not be admitted.

The Organization shall not be liable for any physical or material damage sustained or caused by the participants during the Festival, including the loss or theft of objects and personal belongings.

The winning choreography will always be announced in programmes, press, posters, etc. as the Choreography Contest Prize Winner of 31MASDANZA, XXXI International Contemporary Dance Festival of the Canary Islands, Spain.

The participant expressly exempts MASDANZA, The International Contemporary Dance Festival of The Canary Islands, of any obligation of any copyright, assuming the participant all the responsibility and obligation that his/her activity might create with any such rights.

The choreographers of the participating pieces will give over to the Organisation the image, recording and audiovisual broadcasting rights of the pieces. The Organisation will use these rights exclusively for informative, educational, and cultural purposes.

ALL PRIZES ARE SUBJECT TO BE TAXED AS STIPULATED BY THE SPANISH LEGISLATION IN FORCE. The Management of MASDANZA will be in charge of ruling on any issue not covered herein.

Participation in 31MASDANZA, THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL OF THE CANARY ISLANDS means the full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

6.- PRESENTATION OF APPLICATIONS

Creators interested in participating in the XXXI Edition of MASDANZA must submit an Electronic Application complying with the following requirements:

-All mandatory boxes in the application must be filled out.

-The video links must be active at least until September 15, 2026 and uploaded on YouTube. The link must be open, otherwise, the password must be included.

-A brief synopsis of the piece must be included.

-If the piece is chosen to participate in the Festival, additional materials will be requested: CV of creator/s, high quality photographs, etc.

REGISTRATION IN THE CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST OF 31MASDANZA:

PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK, FILL OUT FORM AND SEND BY E-MAIL:

CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST REGISTRATION

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

AVAILABLE FOR SELECTED PIECES AS OF JUNE 01, 2026

The following link contains IMPORTANT information for the participants in the Group Choreography Contest.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

31MASDANZA – CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST

C/ Alonso Alvarado 43, 2º B

35003 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria