STOMPING GROUNDS DANCE FESTIVAL
AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF LOCAL MOVEMENT-BASED PERFORMANCE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH — 6:00PM: FULL CONCERT CASTS A & B
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8TH — 4:00PM: CAST B // 5:00PM: RECEPTION AND SITE DANCES // 6:00PM: CAST A (COME TO ONE PART OR ALL!)
Stomping Grounds Dance Festival (SGDF) is a vibrant annual August event that brings together the Valley’s diverse dance community to celebrate and share original, movement-based performance. Rooted at the Northampton Center for the Arts, the festival began as a collaborative platform to bridge styles, generations, geographies, and dance cohorts—and has grown into a beloved gathering for artists and audiences alike. Choreographers presenting work in the 2026 festival include Ashleigh McGown, Chelsea Perry + Bill Kules, Dara Bramson, Dorothy VanDeCarr, Hayley White, Katherine Kain + Evelyn Kirby, Kelly Silliman, Lexi Major Jameson, Lisa Leizman, Liz O’Brien, Madelyn Farr, Michelle Marroquin, Samantha Grossman, and Zazie Tobey.
For choreographers and dancemakers:
Thank you for your interest in Stomping Grounds Dance Festival (SGDF)! We are excited to welcome you into this wonderful community of movers and makers! Please read the info below and apply early to save time and stress. Questions can be directed via email to Kelly Silliman (SGDF Producer and NCFA CO-Director) at programs@nohoarts.org. PLEASE NOTE: This section holds the submission process and dates for the 2026 festival, and is here for information purposes only. Please check back in spring 2027 for updated information.
The goal of the festival is:
To share artistic process and performance space in community with other dancers/dancemakers in Western Mass
To offer choreography and performance opportunities to both professional dance artists as well as serious dancers and makers who might not consider themselves professional
To make connections with other dance artists across style, geography, and experience
To have fun celebrating dance in our community!
Criteria for participation:
Choreographers/dance makers living in or close to Western Mass during the summer months are welcome to apply
Pieces should be finished by the festival performance (ie; this is not a works-in-progress performance, although of course we understand that works may go through multiple iterations)
Pieces (or excerpts) must be 12 minutes or less (some exceptions may apply, please contact us with questions about this)
Choreographers and performers must be available for an initial meet and greet meeting on Monday 6/22/26 at 5:00pm, and a CRP-inspired works-in-progress sharing for festival participants only on Sunday 7/19/26 between 12 and 6pm (each choreographer will be assigned to a 2-hr slot, remote participation may be possible)
Choreographers and performers must be available for tech between 4 and 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday 8/5/26 and 8/6/26 (you will be assigned to one or the other), and the festival performances and reception on Friday 8/7/26 and Saturday 8/8/26, exact afternoon/evening times TBA. PLEASE HOLD THESE DATES IN FULL!
All artists who meet the criteria and can commit will be accepted (if more people apply than we can accommodate, which has not yet happened, participants will be chosen by lottery)
What the festival offers:
A chance to present or perform dance/movement art in community with others
High quality video of the performance from multiple angles
Photographer documentation
Two hours of rehearsal time in the Flex space or Carole's Dance Studio
Complimentary admission for choreographers/performers to all festival performances
Note: while we aren’t offering compensation for participation, there is also no submission fee
How it works:
Choreographers and dance makers, submit your work by midnight on Sunday 6/21 (the application process for 2026 is now closed)
Hold all relevant dates
Support digital marketing efforts (materials provided)
Come dance with us this summer!