WESTFEST TOP FLOOR 2026

Dual Rivet
Photography by Alexander Berg

APPLICATIONS FOR TOP FLOOR NOW OPEN!

Submission Deadline: January 9, 2026

ABOUT:

WestFest: Top Floor 2026 presents two programs of visionary artists at The Kitchen's Westbeth location: a historic 3,000+ square foot loft space with 25 windows overlooking the Hudson River. Stepping away from our traditional proscenium venue, this year’s program invites artists to share work for an immersive three-sided audience within a loft environment. Complete with old wood floors and soaring ceilings, the space will be professionally lit to create an intimate and atmospheric performance experience. Selected artists will present an up-to 8-minute piece—new or adapted—across three shared performances.

THE VENUE:

Top Floor will take place in the historic 4th-floor loft at The Kitchen’s Westbeth location (163B Bank Street).

Please note the following considerations:

Thrust-style seating with audience on three sides
Limited but intentional set lighting
No wings; offstage entrances and exits; no hidden crossover
Performance area: 19 ft wide × 25 ft deep
Uneven hardwood floors (no marley)

Upon acceptance, artists will have an opportunity to view the performance space.

This venue is different from Top Floor's typical home—expect a distinctive, intimate, and atmospheric setting.

APPLICATION:

The curation panel will be looking for a diverse group of dance artists with a strong vision and high-performance quality. Strong preference will be given to artists based in the New York metropolitan area.

SELECTED TOP FLOOR ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE:

FREE production costs
Professionally captured and edited photos
Performance video
Dedicated social media post and promotions on all WestFest platforms
$250 performance stipend in appreciation of your work

THE PROCESS & TIMELINE:

To apply for TOP FLOOR, complete the application below:

APPLY HERE FOR TOP FLOOR!

Each artist will have the opportunity to show a new or adapted work (8 minutes max) in two nights and one matinee of shared performance.

Tech Rehearsal: 30-minute tech slot assigned between Mon-Tues, March 16-17 (Exact time shared upon acceptance)
Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, March 18 (Exact time shared upon acceptance)
Performances:
- Program A: Thurs, March 19 at 7 PM, and Sat, March 21 at 4 & 7 PM
- Program B: Fri, March 20 at 7 PM and Sun, March 22 at 4 & 7 PM

APPLICATION TIMELINE & FEE:

Early Bird Submission Deadline:

December 26, 2025: $25

*Additional $5 off (total $20) for early submission by December 15!

Regular Submission Deadline - January 9, 2026: $35

To submit your application fee, click HERE.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance via email no later than February 1, 2026.

MEET THE TOP FLOOR CURATION TEAM:

Carol Nolte

Founder, Producer & Curator

CAROL NOLTE/DANCE COLLECTIVE (Artistic Director) founded WestFest 15 years ago as a response to the financial strain of the recession, offering choreographers free or low-cost performance opportunities at the Westbeth Artists Residence, her home for the last 35 years. She has also created over 50 dances for her award-winning company Dance Collective. Recently, her work has been seen at Merce Cunningham Studio, The Kitchen, Joyce SoHo, The 92nd Street Y Fridays at Noon. She has also co-founded and produced three dance festivals, DanceBLITZ, Taos Dance 2000, and, currently, WestFest.

She graduated from Brown University with honors in American Civilization and took an advanced degree in dance at The New School.

www.dancecollectiveny.com

Dylan Baker

Producer & Curator

DYLAN BAKER is a New York City based dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist, Dylan is originally from the boondocks of Wisconsin where he acquired a BFA in Dance at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Along with works by BOiNK! Dance & Film, Dylan can be found dancing with David Parker & The Bang Group and Matthew Westerby Company. Behind the scenes for once, he is proud to be a producer for the annually held WestFest dance festival at Westbeth Artist Housing and Center for the Arts.

When Mr. Baker is not performing or producing, he wears his teaching hat at The Steffi Nossen School of Dance in White Plains, NY and Rivertown Dance Academy in Tarrytown, NY.

Rachael Lieblein-Jurbala

Producer & Curator

RACHAEL LIEBLEIN-JURBALA (she/her) is a New York City-based arts administrator, producer, dancer, and choreographer, and has served as producer and curator of the WestFest Dance Festival since 2022.

Rachael is Associate Director, Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) and Artistic Programming for the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y, NY, and is the director of Rachael Lieblein-Jurbala Dance Works – a company creating narrative-driven, socially-engaged performance since 2020. She is proud to serve on the board of the Sasamani Foundation – an organization based in Bagamoyo, Tanzania dedicated to increasing access to education and employment opportunities for women and girls through holistic sponsorship and empowerment-driven programming.

Rachael holds a bachelor's degree in Dance and Sociology with a certificate in Community Action and Public Policy from Connecticut College.

www.rachael-lieblein-jurbala.com

APPLY FOR TOP FLOOR TODAY!

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

Questions? Email us at info@westfestdance.com