Open call to sysäys festival 2026

6 days ago
2 min read

Open Call for a Contemporary Dance Piece

Sysäys-festivaali is looking to complete the programme for its summer 2026 edition. We are seeking one full-length contemporary dance piece to be performed indoors as part of the one-day festival on Saturday, 25 July 2026.

The festival will be held in Orivesi for the second time and focuses on current contemporary dance and contemporary circus. Apply by 27th March 2026.

Criteria for the Work

We are looking for a finished piece that has a duration of 40–60 minutes. It may be multidisciplinary, but dance must play a central role. It should be able to be technically adapted to a simple performance space.

Due to the festival’s limited budget, a realistic scale is a performance with 1–2 performers. The applicant must be able to invoice. Please include all costs in your fee (e.g. travel expenses).

The primary target audience is the local community of Orivesi. We hope the work does not contain content unsuitable for children, meaning it can be attended by audiences of all ages.

Festival information

The festival takes place at the Orivesi Campus (former Oriveden Opisto). The indoor performance will be held in Klemettisali.

The festival is responsible for production and marketing.

Klemettisali:

Multipurpose hall with raked seating for approximately 200 people
Sports hall parquet floor (covered with black dance mat)
Ceiling height: 8 metres
No aerial rigging points

The festival provides:

Basic lighting setup
Basic sound system
One technician (who can operate the performance)
Additional assistance from organisers and volunteers if needed

A dress rehearsal can be arranged either on the previous day or on the morning of the performance day.

Selection Criteria

Selections will be made by the board of Sysäys ry. The following criteria will be considered:

Budget
Overall festival programme composition
Artistic quality
Alignment with the association’s values (sustainability, community, nerve, accessibility)
Suitability for the target audience