Terms & Conditions
1. Awards. The following prizes will be awarded:
Jury Award a commission for Bern Ballett
Audience Award fellowship for a movement research with Bern Ballett
2. Acceptability. The decision taken by the renowned international jury of dance experts is binding.
3. Age limit. All choreographers have to be at least 18 years old. Otherwise, there is no age limit.
4. Professionalism. All choreographers and dancers are required to have professional training.
5. Criteria. All stylistic approaches to choreography are admitted. Criteria for selection require a clear artistic vision that encompasses professionalism, choreographic quality, a high level of dance performance and innovation. The premiere of the submitted piece should not have taken place before 2022.
6. Length and amount of people. The choreography to be submitted has to be between 15 and 30 minutes long, with a min. of 2 and a max. of 6 performers, without or with a reduced stage design.
7. Application documents. The choreography has to be submitted in its entirety as a video via audition platform Lanced no later than 15th of January 2026. The video must only contain the choreography to be submitted. A CV of the choreographer, in English, max. 1 page, PDF and with complete contact details must be submitted too. Only one submission per choreographer will be accepted. Questions can be sent to: award@buehnenbern.ch
no applications will be accepted via email
8. Invitations. Isabelle Bischof, curator of Tanzplattform Bern, will review all applications and decide which choreographers will be invited to the competition. Bühnen Bern reserves the right of admission. All applying choreographers will be notified by March 2026, whether they are invited to Tanzplattform Bern 2026.
9. Dates. The chosen choreographers will be invited to perform their entire dance pieces in Bern during one evening (18th or 19th of June 2026) and additionally to perform a 5 min. excerpt out of their piece on the 20st of June 2026. All participants must commit to be available for all these dates, as well as rehearsals, interviews or public relations events in Bern from 17th to 20st of June 2026. The decision whether a piece is shown on the 18th on the 19th of June 2026 will be announced later and decided by the organization board.
10. Award ceremony. During the award ceremony on the 20st of June 2026 the winners will be announced. For the ceremony, an excerpt of the submitted choreography of max. 5 minutes length has to be prepared. The audience will base its vote on these excerpts. For the showing of the abovementioned excerpts, separate audio tracks will have to be prepared by the choreographers.
11. Promotion. All choreographers are required to provide promotion material of their works (highresolution stage photos, press text, videos and biographies in either German or English). A deadline for submitting this material will be announced after the invitations have been sent out.
12. Rehearsal time. A limited time slot for lights and spacing will be provided. All pieces must be set up within the given time frame and eventually be reduced to the given technical possibilities of the venue.
13. Wage. All choreographers will obtain a performance fee. Accommodation and travel costs will be covered in addition.