Germany | Aerowaves Springback Academy for dance criticism 2024

Springback Academy is looking for up to 10 writers based in Europe to be mentored in dance criticism in the environment of Aerowaves’ annual festival Spring Forward 2024, in Darmstadt, Mainz and Wiesbaden (Germany) from 20 to 23 March.

Springback Academy is looking for up to 10 people with a lot of enthusiasm and some prior experience in writing about dance. The participants will be mentored by a team of leading critics including Donald Hutera (The Times), Sanjoy Roy (The Guardian), Kelly Apter (The Scotsman) and Laura Cappelle (New York Times).

During the Spring Forward festival each participant will: 

• Attend an on-line meeting prior to the Academy 
• Attend an introductory lecture about dance writing 
• Attend a talk about writing in English as your second language
• Write short reviews in English (150 words) of several of the performances they see over the weekend
• Contribute one longer opinion piece for the Springback website in the week after the festival 
• Participate in a round-table and/or introduction/panel discussions
• Meet informally with the 200 Spring Forward audience made up almost exclusively of dance professionals

Who can apply?

Springback Academy is open to writers based in Europe who are proficient in written and spoken English (not necessarily as a first language). 

What is provided?

Successful applicants will receive mentorship, accommodation, a contribution to travel costs, hospitality, a pass to the Spring Forward festival and the opportunity to participate in future Springback activities, including Springback Assemblies and contributing to Springback Magazine. 

Participants will be required to organise and fund their own return travel to the festival. 

Springback Academy 2024 application guidelines

Deadline: 4 December 2023