Dear dancers, we invite you to apply and secure your place at the 37th Croatian Dance Ensembles Gathering.
22 November 2026
Karlovac, Zorin dom City Theatre
Applications: 14. 9. – 16. 10. 2026.
The Croatian Dance Ensembles Gathering is a national platform that has been bringing together selected dance groups from across Croatia for 36 years, with the aim of presenting, evaluating, and developing contemporary dance practice.
This year’s theme, CO-CREATION, highlights collaboration between choreographers and dancers, focusing on dialogue, research, improvisation, and shared decision-making.
Selected groups will perform as part of a full evening programme, with expert evaluation and written feedback.
CATEGORIES AND APPLICATION
The Croatian Cultural Association, as the main organizer, announces a Call for Applications open to all interested ensembles. The right to participate in the Festival is granted to ensembles selected by the Committee responsible for conducting the call and selecting the Festival program.
Ensembles selected to perform at the 37 th Gathering will perform in the non-competitive part of the program.
Performers, members of the selected ensembles, must not be younger than 12 years of age.
All interested ensembles apply to the Call by submitting an application form along with recordings of the choreographies they wish to enter. When applying, ensembles may choose one of the following two categories:
SHORT STAGE WORKS
1 choreography no more than 4 minutes. It can be thematically related to the Call’s theme, or freely chosen. Solo, duet, and group works with multiple dancers may be submitted.
or
LONGER STAGE FORM
A work (stage form) lasting between 8 and 12 minutes. The theme of the work must be related to the Call’s theme, its dramaturgical structure should correspond to a stage form, and it must meet a minimum aesthetic standard suitable for public performance. The submitted recording must clearly show that it is unedited and recorded in full, without additions. One ensemble may submit one longer stage form.
RECORDING
Recordings of the submitted choreographies must be attached to the application form. The recording must be delivered via Jumbo Mail, on a USB drive, or uploaded to YouTube (in which case, please send us the link to the video). The use of instrumental music is recommended.
The basic quality of the recording must be sufficient to ensure a clear presentation of the submitted choreography for the purposes of the selection process and program planning of the Gathering. Dancers in the recording must be dressed in the costumes in which the choreography is normally performed.
OTHER
In addition to the application form and recordings of the submitted pieces, applicants must also provide:
- a short text about the ensemble (maximum half a page, A4 format),
- a representative photograph (in the highest possible resolution),
- music in MP3 format (separately for each piece),
- and descriptions of all submitted choreographies.
The basic information provided in the application form will be published in the Festival’s promotional materials.
After the Call is completed, the Committee for conducting the call and selecting the program will choose the ensembles and create the Program.
The Croatian Cultural Association (HSK) reserves all rights to record and broadcast all events without compensation to the ensembles and choreographers.
All detailed information regarding arrival at and departure from the Gathering will be provided to participants once available. Travel expenses are to be covered by the participants themselves.
Completed application forms, recordings, text, and photographs should be sent to ples@hrsk.hr
from September 14 to October 16, 2026.
For any additional information, you may contact the dance program associate at +385 95 4556 877 or via email at ples@hrsk.hr
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