2026 info coming soon!
JUL 1 to 11 / 2025
A creative experience for professional dancers 21+ to see and be seen
MOVE MORE + MAKE MOVES
NW Dance Project offers a unique, creative, and enriching two-week residency designed for professional-level dancers (21+) seeking to immerse themselves in creative processes with leading international contemporary choreographers and other dance artists, teachers, and mentors.
Under the mentorship of Artistic Director Sarah Slipper, MOVE is conceived as a way to help dancers move, create, and connect with choreographers and other dancers, be inspired, and activate their artistic and physical practices in a spacious and stimulating environment. Dancers can develop and discover their unique creative voice and offer an opportunity to see and be seen.
MOVE brings artists together into an immersive company environment to MAKE creative work while being mentored to push and develop their curiosity, creativity, versatility, and capabilities with maximum concentration and focus.
Each day begins with a professional-level technique class before transitioning into research workshops and choreographic development sessions. The residency will close with public ticketed showings on the final day.
We are looking for dancers who have an extensive background in ballet and contemporary dance training, are curious, open, and seeking an artistic endeavor.
Participation in MOVE is very limited in capacity so dancers and choreographers can connect and collaborate as a unified company of artists.
MOVE Choreographers
Our MOVE 2026 Choreographers will be announced soon!
To date, twelve dancers have received company contracts from their participation in MOVE.
MOVE
Project Residency Schedule
TUE JUN 16 to FRI JUN 26 / 2026
Dancers 21+
9:15AM to 6:00PM (includes SAT JUN 20)
2026 Project Fee - $TBA
AUDITIONS
Dancers are accepted into MOVE by audition only. We want to see you MOVE. Due to high interest, nature and limited capacity of this project, dancers must attend a LIVE audition in Portland, New York, or Los Angeles to be considered for acceptance.
Dancers that participated in MOVE in the past two years (2024 or 2025) do not need to attend an audition to be considered for acceptance. Please register for "MOVE Previous Attendee Application" and upload your current resume, headshot, and dance shot.
Prior to our Portland audition, dancers are encouraged to participate in our Company Repertoire Workshop JAN 7 to 9 / 2026 in Portland, OR.
AUDITION CITIES
PORTLAND OR
JAN 10 / 2026
12:15PM to 2:15PM
NW Dance Project Creative Center
211 NE 10th Ave
Portland OR 97232
NEW YORK NY
JAN 17 / 2026
10:00AM to 12:00PM
NY City Center
130 W 56th St
New York NY 10019
LOS ANGELES CA
JAN 31 / 2026
2:00 to 4:00PM
Stomping Ground LA
5453 Alhambra Ave
Los Angeles CA 90032
To Audition
Pre-registration is required for all auditions. Registration closes 48 hours prior to each audition date.No in-person registration on day of audition.
Please be prepared to upload audition materials at the time of registration:
– résumé
– headshot photo
– full body dance photo
There is limited capacity for auditions. We recommend registering early.
Acceptance into MOVE is highly competitive, due to the nature of the project. Dancers not accepted into MOVE will automatically be considered for acceptance into Summer Dance Platform.
Audition results will be sent by email within one to two weeks following the audition. Accepted dancers are required to confirm their spot and submit their deposit by the deadline in their acceptance notification.
We will have a waitlist for dancers not immediately accepted into MOVE. Accepted applicants who have not submitted their deposit will have their place offered to dancers on the waiting list.
All dancers must be at least age 21 by JUN 16 / 2026. No exceptions will be made.
Audition fees are non-refundable.
MOVE SHOWING
Friday, JUN 26 / 2026
MOVE culminates in public showings featuring the original work choreographed during the residency. This is a ticketed event held at NW Dance Project's Creative Center.
NW Dance Project Creative Center
211 NE 10th Ave
Portland OR 97232
ACCOMMODATIONS
MOVE dancers can arrange their own accommodations, or opt for NW Dance Project-sponsored accommodations.
Check in - JUN 30 / 2025
Check out - JUL 12 / 2025
2025 Housing rate: $1235 USD (double occupancy)
NW Dance Project in partnership with Portland State University (PSU) offers housing at the centrally located Ondine Hall in downtown Portland.
Amenities include complete kitchen with built-in appliances, bathroom, internet access, towel and linen service, and laundry facilities and secure entry passes.
There are many restaurants, delis, coffee shops, food stores and even a farmer’s market located in the area to accommodate students’ budgets, and the center of the city’s award-winning public transportation system is just blocks away and recommended for travel to and from NW Dance Project's Creative Center and studios.
Due to limited availability, we highly suggest dancers submit their payment as soon as possible. Apartments will be allocated on a "first-come, first-served" basis.
