Overview

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, assimilation, resistance, and care, cross-culturally within the AAPI diaspora. This collaborative work culminates in a showing in May at the Oceanside Museum of Art.

• 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 (meet our mentors). 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.

Feb 22 - Meet & Greet

Mar 14 - Collaboration Workshop
Apr 18 - Feedback Session
May 9 - Collaboration Showing
Jun (TBD) - ChoreoLAB Workshop

Jul 19 - ChoreoWreck
Sep 4 - AADF2026 Collaborative Residency Showcase
Sep 20 - Final Meeting & Recap

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.

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.

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. 

Throughout the Residency, choreographers and spoken word artists will have several opportunities to engage with the community for both research and sharing of work.

Oceanside Museum of Art Showing (May 9) - 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 19) - 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

AADF2026 Collaborative Residency Showcase (Sep 4) - Presentation of Choreographic Research

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.

Rehearsal Space - Rehearsal space provided (in San Diego) 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 guidance from experienced AAPI mentors who have navigated the intersections of multiculturalism, diaspora, identity, and dance - meetings, one-on-one rehearsal visits, feedback, etc.

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
• Collaborating artist honorarium of $250 each (up to 2 collaborating artists per resident) to support final work presented at AADF2026
• Production stipend of $250 (materials, costumes, etc) to support final work presented at AADF2026
• 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.

• 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 - some exceptions (please inquire).
• 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.