Join CSULB Dance as we host our 7th ACDA Conference, a chance to celebrate the uniqueness of our member schools and explore some highlights of the greater Los Angeles dance scene. 

Here are some exciting opportunities during Baja at the BEACH 26:

• Take part in our inaugural Baja Street Dance Battle!  Each registered school will get the opportunity to sign up Dance Battle students prior to the start of the conference so they can partake in special Street Dance classes and the preliminary rounds. The Dance Battle Finals will take place during the Student Party with a live DJ.
• Explore Dance Science through special sessions and workshops.  Each registered school will get the opportunity to enroll a limited number of students in selected classes that explore the field of dance science including a chance to learn in the CSULB Dance Pilates Lab.
• Dance with and learn from working professionals in the Los Angeles dance scene.
• Grow and be inspired by your fellow ACDA student dancers!

The Conference will also feature 4 Adjudication Concerts and a Gala Concert on the closing day chosen by an amazing trio of adjudicators, to be announced soon!

In collaboration, the Dance Departments of Illinois State University and Western Illinois University are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the 2026 ACDA Central Conference!

Dance as Power is a profound concept that spans cultural, political, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. It recognizes dance not just as an art form, but as a force for transformation, resistance, and expression.

Dance as [Personal] Power

• Embodiment: Dance allows individuals to reclaim their bodies, especially in contexts where bodies have been marginalized or objectified.
• Healing: Movement can release trauma, build confidence, and foster self-love.
• Voice [without words]: For those silenced or unheard, dance becomes a language of truth.

Dance as [Cultural] Power

• Preservation: Traditional dances carry ancestral knowledge, values, and history.
• Adaptation: Dance evolves with communities, reflecting resilience and innovation.
• Connection: It bridges generations, geographies, and identities.

Highlights for the conference:

• Adjudication and Gala Concerts
• Large Movement Spaces
• Community Building events daily
• National Screendance Showing

A legacy of excellence! Ohio University’s School of Dance is thrilled to welcome you back for the 2026 ACDA East-Central Regional Conference — our 9th time hosting!

While this year’s conference will be a bit more intimate in scale, we’re packing it with the same vibrant energy and opportunities you’ve come to love:

• 4 Adjudication Concerts
• 1 Informal Concert 
• 60+ Inspiring classes taught by dynamic faculty and guest artists
• 1 Screendance Gala showing
• 1 Gala Concert (no gala tech)
• Spacious, light-filled studios in Putnam Hall
• State-of-the-art performance venues for adjudication & gala concerts
• Innovative programming highlighting identity, cultural exchange, and creative research
• Athens’ vibrant food, arts, and small-town charm

Join us in celebrating dance, community, and excellence in 2026. We can’t wait to welcome you to Athens!

Making history as the first non-academic host for an ACDA Conference!

The 2026 New England Conference is bringing communities together to celebrate the theme of Dance in Real Life. Most of the classes, workshops and events will be held in the historic Dance Complex venue, and the showings will be graciously hosted by José Mateo Dance Theater.

The Dance Complex will not hold formal adjudication concerts. Instead, they will present a series of concerts followed by informal critique sessions.

Each institution may submit up to two works. If two are submitted, at least one must be student-choreographed.

A maximum of 36 dances can be presented due to time and space limitations.

The Department of Theatre Arts & Dance at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is pleased to host the 2026 ACDA North-Central Conference!

The 2026 North-Central Conference will feature:

• Opportunities to experience firsthand and to learn (more) about the Twin Cities dance landscape and its communities, spaces, and resources
• A wide array of classes and workshops by guest artists and our faculty community
• A re-framed “informal showing” on the main stage of the famed Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts in Downtown Minneapolis
• Minnesota Moves, a dance concert held at Northrop Auditorium featuring Twin Cities-based dance artists and companies
• Moderated panels for creative research and paper presentations
• Classic ACDA adjudicated concerts, feedback sessions, and a culminating paper gala and “people’s choice” recognition (in lieu of a traditional gala concert)

The 2026 Northeast ACDA Conference at Seton Hill University is focusing on YOU. We are interested in developing conversations about connecting with your unique histories, dance forms, inspirations and solidifying “Why are YOU dancing?”

• Connecting historical relevance. Investigating intention. Exploring “self” in dance.
• Interested in exploring a wide variety of topics through guest lectures and faculty revealing their own personal connections to what they teach and do.
• Panel Reflection: spend time with the adjudicators after gala selections have been made
• This Conference will not follow the standard ACDA adjudication process. Adjudicators will know the status of the choreographer. More information on the adjudication process will be available soon. This conference will also include a Viewer’s Choice concert instead of a traditional Gala Concert.
• Audience voting – we want YOU to reflect on your favorite pieces and why YOU would consider them for the gala!

We can’t wait for you to join us at the ACDA  Northwest Conference in Las Vegas!

Experience the unique intersection of dance and design—at UNLV Dance we believe the theatre frame and theatrical space is as much a character of the piece as the performer.

DANCE

Perform in Fabulous Las Vegas, the Entertainment capital of the world. Be part of a huge range of diverse classes, workshops, panel discussions, and performances.

DESIGN

Experience the unique intersection of dance and design—at UNLV Dance we believe the theatre frame and theatrical space is as much a character of the piece as the performer.

DESERT

Visit and interact with the Erick Hawkins Dance Collection of historical set pieces, props, masks, and costumes, all housed at UNLV Dance. And of course, experience all that our Las Vegas desert oasis has to offer.

Dance@UNT can’t wait to welcome YOU to the 2026 ACDA South-Central Conference at the University of North Texas in Denton!

For years, the South-Central Conference has been a place where dancers of all styles come together to belong, connect, and be inspired—a space where community is built, creativity thrives, and movement takes on new meaning.

This year, we’re keeping that tradition alive and adding our own UNT spark with four unforgettable days of dance, featuring:

•  3 adjudicators bringing unique perspectives
•  4 adjudication concerts showcasing the best of our region
•  3 Informal Concerts for fearless experimentation
•  1 dazzling Gala concert you won’t want to miss

But that’s just the start…

Special Guest Alert: Alongside our regional adjudicators and teachers, we’re flying in a select group of instructors from outside the region—teaching exclusively on Day 1. Stay tuned for this can’t-miss lineup!

 All conference long, enjoy:

•  8 open dancing spaces for spontaneous creativity 
•  A student lounge stocked with snacks and chill vibes
•  A faculty & staff lounge with great coffee and great conversation
•  Two stunning performance spaces—one for adjudication, one for Informal Concerts

Get ready to connect, create, and celebrate the artistry of dance at the 2026 ACDA South-Central Conference—where UNT turns movement into magic.

Brenau University is so excited to host the 2026 ACDA Southeast Conference in Gainesville, GA from February 26-March 1, 2026! This year’s theme, “Still Here” highlights the challenges of arts funding and the resilience of dance in academic settings. 

New this year:

• High School Recruitment Day: Recruitment Opportunities for Colleges to Market to Prospective Students

We’re hosting a special day just for high school seniors interested in studying dance in college during the conference! Students will be invited to meet college reps, explore programs, attend classes and take part in recruitment and auditions. 

Universities can showcase their faculty and student achievements while recruiting for their programs. Faculty will receive prospective students’ information prior to the conference to prepare marketing materials. 

• Faculty and Guest Artist Concert: This year we will curate a concert dedicated to present faculty and guest artist choreography. This is an opportunity for faculty to either perform or showcase their works. Schools also have the choice to showcase a guest artist’s work. School can only bring ONE work to be presented. The time limit is 8 – 10 minutes. 

This year’s theme, “Still Here” highlights the challenges of arts funding and the resilience of dance in academic settings. The conference will showcase the strength of collegiate dance through:

• Classes
• Performances
• Scholarly presentations
• Roundtable discussions about Grant Funding and Sustainability
• Faculty and student idea-sharing

Adjudicators:

• Otis Donovan Herring
• Leah Cox
• Sidra Bell

Special Guests Include:

• RWS Global – a top entertainment company (Disney, Universal, cruise lines, and more).
  • Info sessions about internships and jobs
    • Live auditions for their clients!
    • Learn more about RWS Global
  • Destiny Wimpye – ballet professional from Pacific Northwest Ballet
    • Guest Artist Classes + Career Insights
  • Dr. Madia Cooper-Ashirifi – member of the Georgia Council for the Arts
  • Tina Lilly – Executive Director, Georgia Council for the Arts
    • Together, they’ll lead a session on grant opportunities for college dance programs and how to support community-based arts initiatives.