Open Call

Palcos Instáveis is a project that seeks to encourage emerging creation in the area of contemporary dance. It is aimed at creators who may be at different levels of consolidation and wish to develop and present new choreographic works, in a professional context. The selected proposals benefit from a creative grant, residence space, artistic support, production support, and presentation at Teatro Campo Alegre.

The cycle is promoted by Instável, in co-production with Teatro Municipal do Porto. Since 2012, more than 150 new creations have been supported and presented.

For whom

– Choreographers born in or residing in the city of Porto and the North region of Portugal, with work already developed in the area of choreography or who are in the process of developing their first pieces;

– Other creators, particularly foreigners, who develop co-creation work with choreographers born in or resident in the city of Porto and the North region of Portugal.

Conditions ensured by Instável / TMP

– Rehearsal space at Instável – Centro Coreográfico, Teatro Campo Alegre (according to availability);
– Artistic monitoring of the project through mentors selected by the creators themselves;
– Presentation space in the Sala Estúdio or Café Teatro at Teatro Campo Alegre (space defined according to technical and logistical conditions);
– Free attendance at a production training (aimed at creators);
– Award of a grant worth €1900;
– Payment of representation licenses, age classification and copyright;
– Technical support and equipment (subject to theater availability);
– Publicity of the project;
– Front of house team;
– Presentation integrated into the Teatro Municipal do Porto program.

Applications

To submit your application, we request that you send:

– Project title (provisional or definitive);
– Brief synopsis of the project;
– Description of the project/artistic intentions/relevance;
– Artistic sheet;
– Expected duration (between 45 and 60 minutes) and age range;
– Biographical note(s);
– Timeline;
– Base budget;
– If it has already premiered;
– Whether it is available for presentation in the first trimester of 2026;
– Images/video links (from the project to be applied for or previous ones).

Apply until July 31.

Formulário

Between 8 and 12 proposals will be selected for development and presentation from January 2026 onwards, averaging 8 creations per year.

A fase de análise e seleção das peças decorre durante julho e agosto de 2025. Os resultados serão divulgados durante o mês de setembro.

The analysis and selection phase will take place during the months of July and August. Results will be released in September.

Any questions or additional information: gabinetedifusao@companhiainstavel.pt

Selection Process

– Preference will be given to shows that have not yet premiered.
– Over the course of four years, until 2026, Instável will dedicate itself to exploring and working on a different theme each year, integrating it into its various activities. In this Open Call, applications that, in their artistic content and/or production processes, focus on two themes — Art and Politics and Gender — Issues and Reconciliations, will be valued.
– Projects may have other sources of support that enhance them, but they may not receive other funding from Teatro Municipal do Porto and/or Porto City Council.
– Proposals will be evaluated by one representative from Instável, one from Teatro Municipal do Porto, and one invited external jury member.
– Only performances that have not yet been presented in Porto by the time of the Palcos Instáveis presentation will be considered.
– Projects whose final output consists of “work-in-progress showings” or “open rehearsals” will not be considered.
– Instável and Teatro Municipal do Porto reserve the right not to select any proposal.