SUMMER SERIES, The Beginning of Season 10
June 26 - July 11 ~ Auditions Open NOW!
Early Registration open until March 13 for ALL tracks!
About the Series
Zion Dance Project's 10th Annual Summer Series will mark the beginning of ZDP's 10th Season! The Series offers a 16-day creative process designed to take dancers on a journey through technique classes, somatic practices and creatively rich rehearsal processes culminating in a concert presented in Dallas, TX.
Auditions for the 2026 Summer Series are now OPEN.
Never danced before, but interested in exploring movement with Zion this summer we have a place for you. Check out the Community Artist Track.
Vision for 2026
For nearly a decade, Zion Dance Project has gathered dancers from across the world in Dallas, TX — creating a space where artistry, faith, and dance meet in meaningful and transformative ways. Summer Series 2026 marks a pivotal evolution in that journey. With fresh clarity and vision, this season introduces a deeper approach to the creative process — one that integrates technical excellence with somatic intelligence, improvisational research, and a spirit-led exploration of the body as both instrument and site of discovery.
This year’s Summer Series invites dancers into an immersive environment where movement is researched, expanded, and fully inhabited. Through fascia-informed training, contact improvisation, and contemporary partnering, artists will develop greater range and responsiveness their movement language. Improvisation will serve not as an accessory but as a core discipline — cultivating adaptability, creative agency, and embodied presence in the studio. Designed for dancers seeking depth beyond traditional models, this experience challenges artists to grow technically while expanding their relationship to their body, creativity, and faith. As Zion steps into a new era, Summer Series 2026 becomes both a continuation of nine years of global gathering and a bold forward trajectory — inviting dancers ready to explore, evolve, and become part of what is emerging next.
Who is this for?
This Summer Series is designed for dancers who are curious about fascia-led, somatic, and contemporary movement and who desire to expand their movement vocabulary beyond codified technique. It invites artists who are open to contact improvisation and partnering work and who are interested in exploring the body as a site of awareness, healing, and revelation. Rooted in a Christ-centered, Spirit-led approach that emphasizes embodied experience rather than performative expression, the program welcomes dancers willing to engage deeply in process — embracing exploration, growth, and transformation rather than focusing solely on outcomes. As such, this experience may not be the right fit for those primarily seeking competition-style training, highly fixed structures, or traditional church dance ministry models. Instead, it is intended for artists who are open to embodied research and creative exploration grounded in presence and curiosity, as well as the development of the whole artist (body, mind, spirit, identity).
Dancers often leave the Summer Series with greater fluidity and efficiency in movement. This includes an increased trust in their body and a deepened understanding of their creative voice and integrated connection between body, artistry, and faith. With the inclusion of somatic practices we hope dancers will also leave the experience with tools that support longevity and sustainability for their movement practice and careers in dance.
A Note on Faith
Zion Dance Project is rooted in the Way of Christ — not as a restrictive system, but as a lived relational experience with God. Our work is shaped by a belief that God dwells with His people - within the body, in the world around us, speaking through creation and continuously inviting us into communion and wholeness rather than fragmentation.
We do not require dancers to hold specific beliefs, but we do invite respect for the spiritual integrity of the space. Many dancers encounter God here not through explanation, but through experience and presence.
This Summer Series is not about fitting into a mold.
It is about becoming more alive in your body, your movement, and your calling.
If you feel drawn to this work — trust that curiosity.
If something in you feels stirred — listen.
Zion Summer Series 2026
A space for dancers ready to go deeper.
Program Details
Dates, Schedule and Venue
June 26 - July 11, 2026
Plano, TX
The Series will kickoff the morning of Friday (6/26) and end following the final presentation of the Sumer Series Concert on Saturday (7/11). Registered dancers will receive a detailed schedule via email
For an overview of the schedule CLICK HERE
Admission
To be considered for ZDP's Summer Series, applicants should submit an audition form presenting a headshot, resumé, intent video and dance reel.
The intent video is a short introduction where you can share who you are and why you feel drawn to the Summer Series experience, allowing us to hear your heart and understand what you hope to explore and grow in during this time. Your dance reel should include compiled clips that showcase your movement quality, technical foundation, and artistic presence, offering insight into how you move and embody your training. Applicants are also asked to provide a current headshot and a dance resume highlighting training background, higher education (if applicable), and performance experience, which will be considered when casting for available positions.
Applications open: February 9, 2026
*Early Bird discount available until March 9, 2026
Applications close: May 31, 2026
Acceptance announcement: Once submitted, applicants can anticipate receiving audition results within two weeks via email.
Placement and Casting
Summer Series is designed as a shared artistic environment where dancers from diverse stages of their journey come together in pursuit of depth, rigor, and seeking growth. We welcome artists ranging from seasoned professionals to emerging dancers who are committed to curiosity, discipline, and meaningful creative process.
Rather than placing dancers into hierarchical levels, we thoughtfully cast artists into specific tracks that help shape their individual experience within the larger collective. These placements allow us to structure class environments, rehearsal processes, and choreographic casting in ways that best support each dancer while strengthening the overall atmosphere of the Summer Series.
Our intention is that every dancer feels both supported and challenged — entering a space where technical excellence, somatic exploration, and collaboration meet. Each track reflects a different entry point into this shared work, ensuring that all artists who desire to be here can find meaningful engagement and growth.
Following auditions, dancers may be invited into one of the following tracks:
Emerging Artist - Formation-Focused Training Experience (Ages 16+)
Designed for pre-professional and collegiate dancers committed to developing mastery, artistry, and embodied presence.
Ideal for dancers preparing for:
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Professional company work
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Advanced artistic research
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Long-term sustainability in dance
Professional Artist - Return to Practice. Return to Presence
(Ages 18+)
Designed for working professionals with rich artistic maturity seeking opportunity to grow and create in a rejuvenating and curious dance space
Ideal for dancers seeking to:
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Expand technical range and efficiency
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Deepen improvisational and contact dance intelligence
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Integrate somatic depth into professional-level work
Principal Artist - Stipend Position
Limited availability — approximately 5 positions. Performance résumé will be taken into consideration, and an additional interview process may be required.
Tuition
Tuition for Summer Series is determined by placement. Here is the tuition breakdown for each artist tracks:
Artist Track
Emerging Artist
Professional Artist
Principal Artist
Tuition
$1,250
Registration Fee
$100
Notes
Scholarships are very limited. All applicants are automatically considered for any available scholarships at the time their audition application is reviewed by ZDP leadership.
Tuition
Waived
$75
Limited space. Registration fee secures placement in the program.
Not
Applicable
No Registration
Fee
Selected artists receive a $250 stipend as part of this specialized professional experience.
An Early Bird discount is available until March 9, 2026, offering $250 off tuition for those ready to commit early. To receive this discount, tuition must be paid in full by the March 9 deadline. We encourage dancers who feel drawn to the experience to apply early, as spaces are limited and early commitment helps us shape the community and creative process intentionally.
Travel and Accommodations
ZDP Summer Series participants are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation while in DFW.
Accepted dancers will be invited to join our private BAND community page. This space allows participants traveling to the DFW area to connect with one another, including those interested in coordinating shared housing during the Summer Series experience. Throughout the program, the BAND page will also serve as a central communication hub where dancers can receive updates, review rehearsal footage, and access shared content that helps archive and celebrate our time together.
Disclaimer: The BAND group is provided as a community connection resource. Summer Series organizers do not coordinate, arrange, or assume responsibility for housing, roommate matching, or individual housing agreements. All housing arrangements are made independently by participants.
Here is a list of accommodations in the Plano/Frisco area. We recommend booking early due to the summer travel demand in this area.
Premium / Walkable Legacy West Area
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Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel
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Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center
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Sandman Signature Plano‑Frisco Hotel
Balanced pricing and close proximity.
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Courtyard Dallas Plano in Legacy Park
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Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Plano Parkway at Preston Road
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NYLO Dallas Plano Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Extended Stay / Suite Options (Ideal for multi-week stays) with kitchenettes and larger rooms for longer visits.
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Home2 Suites by Hilton Plano Legacy West
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Staybridge Suites Plano – Legacy West Area
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Homewood Suites by Hilton Plano‑Richardson
Alternative Housing Options
Many Summer Series dancers also choose:
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Airbnb or VRBO rentals (search “Legacy West,” “West Plano,” or “Frisco”)
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Furnished corporate apartments for longer stays
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Summer Series for me?
Do I need contact improvisation experience?
No prior experience is required — only a willingness to step into the process with curiosity and openness. Contact improvisation is introduced progressively, with clear guidance and an emphasis on safety, consent, and relational awareness, allowing dancers to explore connection and shared movement in a supportive environment.
What should I expect if this work is new to me?
Expect discovery. This work may feel different from traditional training models, inviting you into exploration through improvisation, somatic awareness, and relational movement practices. Come with curiosity, a willingness to try something new, and an openness to the journey — you don’t need to have it all figured out before you arrive.
I am not a professional dancer or training for a career in dance — do I belong?
Yes! Whether you are new to dance, returning after time away, or simply curious to deepen your connection to movement, there is a place for you here. Our Community Artist Experience is an open-level track designed for beginner to intermediate movers who want to explore dance in a supportive and embodied environment. For some returning dancers, the Emerging Artist Track may also be a good fit. If you are unsure which pathway is right for you, feel free to reach out at ziondanceproject.info@gmail.com — we would be happy to help guide you.
Is this program only for Christians?
No — everyone is welcome to the table. While Zion’s work is rooted in a Christ-centered perspective, Summer Series is designed as a space where artists from diverse backgrounds can gather, explore, and engage in meaningful exchange. We invite dancers who are curious about embodied practice, creative research, and authentic connection to join us and experience the joy, freedom, and community that shape Zion.