Springback Academy 2026 – Open Call

About the Open Call

Springback Academy will take place at Aerowaves’ Spring Forward festival in Guimarães, Portugal. Arrival: 5 May 2026. Academy: 6–9 May 2026. Departure: 10 May 2026. After Umeå, Barcelona, Pilsen, Aarhus, Sofia, Paris, Elefsina, Dublin, Darmstadt and Gorizia, Springback Academy is once again offering aspiring dance writers the opportunity to be mentored in the fundamentals of quality dance journalism in the action-packed environment of the annual Spring Forward festival. Co-ordinated by Brussels-based Academy director Oonagh Duckworth, 10 participants will hone their critical writing skills under the guidance of four professional dance writers, publishing in English, and having the chance to create, shape and share international conversations about dance. It’s an intensive, fast-track route to gain experience and technique in responsible, effective, attractive dance journalism as well as to explore and understand the opportunities that digital publishing has to offer. We are looking for 10 people with an interest in, or some prior experience of writing about dance but who are not well established within the field. They will be mentored by our lead critics including Emily May (Times Literary Supplement, Financial Times), Sanjoy Roy (Guardian, editor of Springback Magazine), Laura Cappelle (New York Times) and Kelly Apter (Scotsman). Successful candidates will attend an online meeting before the Academy, introductory lectures, and talks on dance writing and interview techniques. They will write short reviews, conduct and write up interviews, and contribute a longer opinion piece for the Springback website. They will also have the opportunity to meet informally with the 200 strong Spring Forward audience made up almost exclusively of dance professionals. Once the Academy programme is completed, writers can contribute to Springback Magazine, participate in the annual Springback Assembly and other related activities.

What is Offered

Successful applicants will receive mentorship, accommodation, agreed travel costs, hospitality, a pass to the Spring Forward festival and the opportunity to participate in future Springback activities, including Springback Assembly and contributing to Springback Magazine. Participants will be required to organise their own return travel to the festival.

Requirements

Springback Academy is open to writers based in Europe who are proficient in written and spoken English (not necessarily as a first language). We are looking for 10 people with an interest in, or some prior experience of writing about dance but who are not well established within the field.

How to Apply

Fill in and send the online form by 24:00 (UTC) 30 November 2025. The application form is available at https://forms.gle/wA8u423ipDFCLus99. Successful applicants will be notified by email at the latest by the morning of 12 January 2026.