Australian Dance Theatre (SA), Dancehouse (VIC), and Sydney Dance Company (NSW) have joined forces to launch ORBIT, a pioneering national touring initiative that will remount and present outstanding independent dance works across the country in late 2026.
Backed by Creative Australia, ORBIT addresses a long-standing challenge in the Australian dance sector: many groundbreaking independent works premiere once and then disappear. Despite their innovation and impact, these pieces often lack the infrastructure needed for further development, touring, or audience growth. ORBIT aims to change that by giving selected works a second life, and a national stage.
The program will present two festival-style tours, each featuring four curated works performed in double-bill evenings. One work will be chosen from each of the three states, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, with a fourth dedicated to a First Nations-led creation, open to applicants from anywhere in Australia.
Selected artists will receive full financial and logistical support, including covered touring costs, professional remount periods, and expert producing, marketing, and technical assistance from the partner organizations. Works must involve no more than five performers and be adaptable to black-box venues with minimal production requirements. However, applicants with ambitious original designs are encouraged to propose scaled-down versions tailored for the tour.
ORBIT welcomes applications from emerging, mid-career, and established independent artists and collectives. The focus is on quality, adaptability, and artistic potential.
This initiative comes at a pivotal time for Australian dance. While major companies continue to tour large-scale productions nationally and internationally, independent artists often struggle to secure follow-up opportunities. ORBIT fills that gap, investing in the longevity of significant choreography and strengthening the overall ecosystem.
Applications will open in early 2026. Full guidelines and submission details will be available on the Australian Dance Theatre website in the coming months.
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