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

AADF2026 Collaborative Residency is a 7-month choreographic and cultural empowerment program serving early to mid-career AAPI dancemakers. 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. The Residency provides choreographers the opportunity to explore their multicultural identity through their artistic practice, while also beginning to explore intersectionality within the AAPI diaspora. Participants move through 2 phases during the Residency.

• Phase 1: Research & Community - Residents are paired with AAPI spoken word artists for interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration, creating joint work through community engagement and storytelling. Together, resident choreographers and spoken word artists explore the complexities of identity, migration, assimilation and resistance cross-culturally within the AAPI diaspora. Two performance opportunities are provided to share this collaborative work.

• Phase 2: Independent Exploration of Identity - Residents dive into independent research. They explore themes of inhabiting multiple cultural spaces, how to navigate conflicting expectations, and what it means to live in that liminal space of being both Asian/Pacific Islander and American. Residents support each other through feedback and exchange, while receiving mentorship and guidance from experienced AAPI dance artists who have and continue to work in this arena. Resident research culminates in a final choreographic work presented at AADF2026 Collaborative Residency Showcase.

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

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

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

*AADF Gatherings are optional for Residents (required for Interns), but we highly recommend attending these networking events.

Open to early to mid-career AAPI choreographers of all dance genres:

• Prior choreographic experience required.
• Experience in collaborating with other artists is preferred. 
• New choreographers are not eligible at this time.

Looking for AAPI choreographers interested in:

• Exploring questions of identity, specifically as relates to identifying as both Asian/Pacific Islander and American.
• Working collaboratively with spoken word artists and possibly with each other. Choreographers are invited to suggest an AAPI spoken word artist they know and would like to collaborate with.

AAPI choreographic duos are eligible to apply. However, we recommend you contact us to discuss prior to submitting an application.

Spoken word artists are under the purview of MindFull Movement.

• Not considered “Residents” of the program, but rather as collaborators.
• Pre-selected by MindFull Movement to collaborate with the resident choreographers. 

Spoken word artists may also be suggested by applicant choreographers and submitted to MindFull Movement for consideration. Email us at asianamericandancefestival@gmail.com with subject: AADF2026 Collaborative Residency.

Rehearsal Space - Rehearsal space provided for the duration of the residency (2hrs/wk totaling 60 hours). Resident choreographers can choose to rehearse in their own studios if they prefer. 

Mentorship - Ongoing mentorship from AAPI artists and arts professionals, including meetings, one-on-one rehearsal visits, and feedback.

Education - Residents have opportunities to take 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.

Financial Support

• Honorarium of $750 disbursed in 3 partial installments
• Collaborating artist honorarium of $250 each (up to 2 collaborating artists per resident) to support final work presented at AADF
• Production stipend of $250 (materials, costumes, etc) to support final work presented at AADF
• Additional funds may be raised via AADF2026 online fundraising campaign for final project needs

Production, Marketing & Tech Support - Support provided for all events.

Documentation - Photo and video documentation of all events.

Throughout the Residency, choreographers and spoken word artists will have several opportunities to engage with the community for both research and sharing of work. All events takes place on a Saturday or Sunday.

SoCal API Festival Showing (April 5 TBD) - Initial Artistic Response of Choreographer/Poet

• 2 works per choreographer/poet duo (under 5min each) - improvised or prepared
     1) Choreographer’s response to poem
     2) Poet’s response to dance
• Post performance panel discussion.
• Post performance community jam session.

Oceanside Theater Company Showing (May 2-3 TBD) - Collaborative Work of Choreographer/Poet
Resident choreographers and spoken word artists present their collaborative work to audiences. A post performance panel discussion follows.

ChoreoLAB (June TBD) - Choreographic Workshop
Residents participate in a TILTshift Dance choreographic workshop that explore movement generation through the lens of cultural heritage and identity. Workshop participants play with ways to incorporate their personal cultural identities into dance making, particularly when working in dance forms outside of their cultural heritage. The workshop is open to all, not just Residents or those who identify as AAPI.

ChoreoWreck (July TBD) - Choreographic Research Process
Residents participate in TILTshift Dance's ChoreoWreck as part of their dance making research. ChoreoWreck is an event during which choreographers offer their works to be de/reconstructed by a fellow artist, live in front of an audience. This process known as “wrecking” allows:

1. the “wreckee” choreographer to gain deep insight into their work as part of their research
2. the “wrecker” to play and practice editing and directing
3. audiences to see dance making as it occurs, leading to a deeper appreciation of the art form

See information on our previous ChoreoWreck events - Spring ChoreoWreck

Production Support & Education

• Residents assist in the production of all AADF2026 festival events that they are not performing or participating in - AADF2026 Dance Film Screening, AADF2026 Community Day, and AADF2026 Mainstage Showcase.
• OPTIONAL - Residents who are also interested in gaining some experience in dance production have the option to participate in some Internship opportunities as their program and time allows.

The Residents’ final choreographic research projects are presented during AADF2026 at the Collaborative Residency Showcase. This may take the form of a dance work and/or presentation incorporating other mediums. This date is still TBD.

• 18 years of age or older.
• Early to mid-career choreographer of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent.
• Open to choreographers of all dance forms.
• 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.

• Committed to working collaboratively with a spoken word artist, and a willingness to engage with and listen to AAPI community members.
• Must be open to working collaboratively with other Residency artists and receiving mentorship from AADF co-organizers. 
• Support and promote the festival and the community of artists involved, including sharing of social media posts, marketing materials, fundraising campaigns, etc.
• Provide timely and detailed information regarding the progress of work for promotional purposes, technical and logistical considerations, performances and events.
• Must be available for entire Residency from mid-February 2026 through mid-September 2026.
• Must be available for all scheduled meetings, workshops, and AADF2026 events.
• Must be able to navigate transportation in and to San Diego for in-person rehearsals, classes, workshops, and events. Candidate would ideally be local to San Diego County, but not required if able to be present for all required happenings and events.

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

If you know of an AAPI spoken word artist who is interested in collaborating with dancers, please ask them to contact us. They can reach us at asianamericandancefestival@gmail.com.

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