Application period is December 15, 2025 - January 19, 2026

AADF2026 Collaborative Internship is a 7-month program that provides early to mid-career AAPI dance artists opportunities to develop production, management, and leadership skills necessary for producing small and large scale events, while also developing skills in community building that is culturally sensitive. This program runs February - September 2026, in tandem with Asian American Dance Festival 2026 (AADF2026) - San Diego’s only dance festival that centers AAPI dance artists and voices. Participants receive direct mentorship in event production, arts management, and community programming.

Who Should Apply: 

• Early to mid-career AAPI dance artists of all dance genres. This includes dance performers, teachers, and choreographers. 
• AAPI dance artists interested in learning about the administrative and operational side of dance making and production.
• AAPI dance artists who want to develop deeper ties to AAPI communities through arts, and building bridges between AAPI communities and with the broader San Diego community.

Application Dates

Dec 15 - Application opens
Jan 19 - Application due
Feb 9 - Artists notified via email

Key Program Dates (Dates are currently TBD - most on Sat/Sun)
Feb 22 - Meet & Greet @‌ Oceanside Museum of Art

Mar 8 - AADF Gathering
Apr 5 - Oceanside Museum of Art showing
May 2-3 - Oceanside Theater Company showing

May 17 - AADF Gathering
Jun - ChoreoLAB workshop
Jul - AADF Gathering

Jul - ChoreoWreck
Aug 24 - AADF2026 Dance Film Screening
Aug 26-28 - AADF2026 Collaborative Residency Showcase
Aug 30 - AADF2026 Community Day
Sep 4-6 - AADF2026 Mainstage Showcase
Sep 13 - Final meeting & recap

Not captured in this timeline are:

• weekly working hours for Interns (8-10 hours/week)
• professional development workshops

Open to early to mid-career AAPI dance artists of all dance genres. This includes dance performers, teachers, and choreographers. 

Looking for dance artists interested in:

• learning about the administrative and operational side of dance making and production.
• developing deeper ties to AAPI communities through arts, and building bridges between AAPI communities and with the broader San Diego community.

Training - Hands-on “learning by doing”

• AADF2026 Planning & Production - Interns work directly with AADF co-organizers and volunteer staff in planning, organizing, and producing this year’s festival and interim events. Having hands in all aspects, Interns learn about, strategizing, budgeting, marketing, communications, and outreach. Interns learn to engage with other professional artists, organizations, performance venues, and other 3rd party partners.
• AAPI Organization Partnership - Interns are provided opportunities to work with and learn from partner AAPI arts and cultural organizations that have longstanding ties and deep commitment to local AAPI communities. These organizations provide Interns rich exposure to community building and cultural engagement. Interns are able to participate in serving community needs while also gaining valuable administrative skills as they assist these organizations with small projects and events.

Education - Interns are provided professional development classes and workshops that are essential for dance artists who eventually wish to self-produce or work for dance organizations. Topics may include grant writing, marketing & social media, self-promotion, creating and managing budgets, etc.

Mentorship - Ongoing mentorship from AADF co-organizers, including one-on-one training and meetings.

Financial Support - Weekly $200 stipend for administrative training and work (weekly hours vary depending upon programming, estimated 8-10hrs/wk).

Opportunity to Complete Second Track: Those who complete the Internship and receive an invitation to return, may apply to participate in the Residency in a subsequent year.

Opportunity to Apply for Fellowship: Those who complete the Internship and receive an invitation to return, may apply to participate in the Fellowship the following year.

• 18 years of age or older.
• Early to mid-career dance artist of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent - any dance form.
• Not a student or enrolled in any degree seeking program at the time of the program.
• Not participating in a comparable development, fellowship, or residency program at the time of this program.
• Not currently a member or employee of TILTshift Dance.

• Must be available for entire Internship from mid-February through mid-September.
• Must be available to work 8-10 hours per week, with some weekends that are event related and usually once or twice per month. AADF2026 festival weeks in Aug/Sep will require more hours. Schedule to be determined.
• Must be available for all scheduled meetings and AADF2026 events.
• Must be local to San Diego County and be able to navigate transportation in San Diego for in-person shifts, classes, workshops, and events.
• Support and promote the festival and the community of artists involved, including sharing of social media posts, marketing materials, fundraising campaigns, etc.

If you know of an early to mid-career AAPI dance artists who would be great for this internship, please forward the information to them. We want dance artists of all genres and from all AAPI groups!

It truly takes a village to bring projects like AADF and the Collaborative Internship to life. Help us support and celebrate our fellow artists!