September 18-20, 2026
Detroit Institute of Arts
Dance City Festival (DCF) is an annual community building event that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. Now in its fourteenth year in Detroit, and second year in Chicago and New York, DCF Detroit includes performances, master classes, and networking opportunities all held in the vibrant city of Detroit at the festival’s central venue, Detroit Institute of Arts. Our mission is to educate diverse audiences about the impact of dance, provide opportunities for artists to share their work, and create an artistic network linking Detroit, the greater US, and the world!
LocationS
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Wayne State University
42 W Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH
Rivera Court Stage I | 5: 30 PM | Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing a platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
Artists presenting work: Nicole Decsey Dance Projects, Ballet Legato, Sophia & El Kronox, Alisha John, Alexis Stus, Amruta Paranjape, Adari Torres, CPR Dance: Inhale Movement
Choreographers Showcase I | 7:00 PM | Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing a platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
Artist presenting work: APulso Dance Project, Detroit Dance Collective, Thayer Jonutz, Zehnder Dance, Lila Hodgin, CPR Dance: Inhale Movement, studio l.a.b, H2 Dance Company, Kaley Pruitt Dance, Riddles Three, Movement Reservoir Dance Company, The ChoreoJoey Project
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH
Master Class + Creation Intensive with Mike Esperanza
Creation Intensive: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Creation Intensive participants must attend the full 4 hours of the intensive (Master Class 10:00-11:00 AM, Creation 11:00-2:00 PM)
Creation Intensive participants will learn repertoire and perform at Dance City Festival Detroit’s Dance and Celebration, Saturday, September 19 at 8:00 PM.
Master Class ONLY: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Dance on Screen | 11:30 AM | Lecture Hall at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing a platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
Rivera Court Stage II | 12:30 PM | Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing a platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
Artists Presenting work: TanzBlack Theatre, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Embodied Arts Collective, Julian McKenzie, Seyong Kim, Haley Tarling, Mrudani School of Performing Arts, June’s Creative Expressions, MIN SON, Ari Mokdad, Iballet, Kayla Wiese, Proyecto IMAN
Networking Speed Dating | 2:00 PM | Crystal Gallery at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Meet choreographers, educators, festival directors, presenters, and arts leaders through a series of brief, facilitated conversations designed to encourage professional connections, future collaborations, and exchange opportunities.
Featured festivals and universities: NewDANCEfest, Midwest RADFest, ATLAS Contemporary Dance Congress, Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, Detroit Metropolitan Dance, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Lindenwood University
“Life Traveler” a site specific performance by Jody Oberfelder | 2:00 PM | Woodward Plaza at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Life Traveler is an interactive piece; its theatricity lies in its simplicity. The dancer, with interactive conversation, both physically and verbally, “wake up” the present moment. Those passing by become a part of an enhanced moving experience
Life Traveler offers the chance to pause and reflect on presence while traversing a bridge, or in this case, ascending or descending the staircase at the DIA. Since 2018, Jody has performed this work in Valencia, Tokyo, Munich, London, Düsseldorf, Minneapolis, Amsterdam, NYC, Philadelphia, Portland Oregon, Berlin, and Frankfurt. We carry vintage suitcases and pass one along to a fellow pedestrian for a physical and intellectual conversation We travel together. This interaction is an invitation to contemplate the present moment, age, history, and journey. In this one-on-one embodied experience, we connect with the space around us, noticing the ordinary and extraordinary in the midst of traveling through our lives,
Summer Stage I + Youth Program | 3:00 PM | Woodward Plaza at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing an outdoor platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
College Showcase + Choreographers Showcase II | 5:00 PM | Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing a platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
Artists presenting work: Well Seasoned Works, Vitality [The Company], Ashley L. Tate, Malala, Aburahmeh, Movement Reservoir Dance Company, APulso Dance Project, Lindenwood University - Tricia Zweier, Chloe Willis; University of Michigan - Alex Hackbardt, Burke Brickner; Western Michigan University - Annalee Traylor, Stephanie Pizzo; Central Washington University - Gabrielle McNeillie
Dance and Celebration | 8:00pm | Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Featuring works by invited national and international guest choreographers, Dance and Celebration is DCF’s most anticipated performance event.
Artists presenting work: Mike Esperanza Creation Intensive Students, Omnivore Dance, Eric Mullis Projects, 2026 Best Dance on Screen, NA2 Dance Theater Corp., Brayden Schmitt, Nova Linea Contemporary Dance
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH
Master Classes | 9:00 AM - 12:20 PM | Wayne State University
DCF presents an exciting series of Master Classes, taught by accomplished local, national, and international practitioners in diverse styles of dance. For all dancers ages 13 and up, Master Classes provide unique opportunities to learn from the best in the industry from across the globe.
9:00-10:00 Ballet w/ Andrea Salazar
10:10-11:10 Contemporary w/ Jared Baker
11:20-12:20 Partnering w/ Omnivore Dance
Summer Stage II + Family Activities | 12:00 PM | Woodward Plaza at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Providing an outdoor platform for choreographers to present their work, these showcases allow artists to share what they have been working on. These performances represent the exceptional work of local, national, and international dancers.
Celebration Stage | 2:00 PM | Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts
The newest addition to Dance City Festival, Celebration Stage brings dancers, non-dancers, musicians, and community members together to celebrate the beauty of art in honor of Harriet Berg - a trailblazer in the Detroit dance community. We invite all styles and cultures to showcase the power and versatility of dance and music. Celebration Stage is a performance showcase taking place in Rivera Court located in the beautiful atrium of the Detroit Institute of Arts. This unique showcase is designed to highlight local, national, and international talent, sharing diverse styles of dance and music with DCF audiences in an inspiring museum setting.