Tour Ready Lab (TRL) is a professional development program for performing artists and companies looking to expand the reach of their work outside their home communities. Working alongside a cohort of peers with shared goals, participants engage in a 5-month curriculum designed to demystify the booking and touring landscape, prepare essential tour marketing assets for distribution, maximize the booking conference experience, and increase the knowledge and confidence to cultivate relationships that lead to touring opportunities.
This year, Tour Ready Lab will host two concurrent cohorts of up to 15 participants each, with both cohorts composed of Showcase Track and Development Track participants. All participants take part in the full Tour Ready Lab curriculum, including professional development seminars and opportunities to build relationships with peers and industry professionals. The Showcase Track includes the additional opportunity to showcase at APAP 2027.
Tour Ready Lab recognizes that the touring landscape is evolving. The curriculum explores a broad range of approaches to securing engagements, building presenter relationships, and developing sustainable touring pathways. The program is designed for artists who are interested in expanding their booking toolkit, embracing entrepreneurial approaches, and exploring both traditional and emerging models for connecting their work with presenters, communities, and audiences.
Applications are due July 27 by 6pm ET.
Program Timeline
Program Start date: August 24, 2026
Program End date: February 5, 2027
Schedule:
July 1 – Application goes live
July 27 at 6pm ET – Application deadline
August 4 – Applicants notified of acceptance, nonacceptance, or waitlist
August 24, 6-8pm ET – Introductory meeting for Cohort 1
August 26, 6-8pm ET – Introductory meeting for Cohort 2
September 14, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #1 for Cohort 1
September 16, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #1 for Cohort 2
October 5, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #2 for Cohort 1
October 7, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #2 for Cohort 2
November 2, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #3 for Cohort 1
November 4, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #3 for Cohort 2
December 7, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #4 for Cohort 1
December 9, 6-8pm ET – Seminar #4 for Cohort 2
January 15-19, 2027 – APAP Conference Weekend
January 16 & 17, 2027 – Tour Ready Lab participants APAP Showcases
February 1, 6-8pm ET – Closing and Debrief for Cohort 1
February 2, 6-8pm ET – Closing and Debrief for Cohort 2
July 2027 – Mid-Year Cohort Catch-Ups
Reflections from Previous TRL Cohorts
“Beyond the seminars and showcase itself, the program helped demystify presenter relationships, normalize the realities of follow-up and booking timelines, and clarify what the real work looks like after APAP. The access to experienced staff, presenters, and peers, along with structured reflection and feedback, made TRL feel both rigorous yet doable. It’s a valuable program for artists who are serious about building touring pathways with clarity, patience, and long-term perspective.”
—Flamenco Arts International (SF, NYC), TRL 2026 Participant
“By the end of this program you will have refined assets, a clear strategy, and the confidence to speak to presenters or other booking stakeholders about your work. It is also a program that will connect you with other artists in the field that are doing similar work, helping you to not feel isolated.”
—Modern Connections (Boston), TRL 2026 Participant
"TRL provided a communal platform for performing artists pursuing touring of their work to collect and innovate strategies for cultivating aligned partners for touring engagements. I am so grateful to have been in co-hort with artists whose work I admire and to be able to have the comradery through APAP that can be a very isolating experience for an artist advocating for themselves. The feedback in designing EPKs and putting together our pitches was invaluable as well as the ability to bounce those things off of industry leaders."
—slowdanger (Pittsburgh), TRL 2025 Participant
"Thanks to TRL, my first showcasing experience at APAP was great. I have also gained the knowledge and tools for successful conferencing in the future, as well as some new friends from the TRL cohort."
—sugar vendil/isogram (Brooklyn), TRL 2025 Participant
Program Details
There are two ways to take part in Tour Ready Lab; in the Showcase Track, or the Development Track. Details on each offering are below.
The Development Track Offers:
• Attend 4 interactive seminars focusing on tour readiness led by dance booking experts including:
– Session #1: Presenter Research and Cultivation, Crafting Your Showcase, Preparing Tour Materials
– Session #2: Arts Conferencing as a Touring Tool
– Session #3: Pitch Practice with a Presenter and a Booking Agent
– Session #4: Thinking Outside the Touring Box – Alternative and Non-Traditional Ways of Getting Your Work Seen
• Receive direct individualized feedback on how to refine digital assets needed for touring (e.g., EPKs, tech riders, video samples, tour budgets) via 4 virtual Office Hours
• Forge a peer supported network – Build relationships and engage with an intimate cohort of artists and arts workers with similar goals
• Learn how to prepare for a booking conference and make the most of sessions, activities, and gatherings that APAP offers
• Attend in-person meet-ups and events during APAP weekend with the other participants
• Gain insight into how to utilize the APAP attendee list to target, contact, and form ongoing relationships with presenters
THE SHOWCASE TRACK OFFERS THE ABOVE, PLUS:
• Perform in a Counterpart-produced APAP 2027 showcase at Ailey Citigroup Theatre or New York City Center Studios as "Tour Ready Lab Artists”. Counterpart is a member of the prominent Dance Managers Collective (DMC), which produces APAP showcases in these venues each year.
• Be included in APAP-related showcase marketing support:
– "Tour Ready Lab Artist" Postcard – Included in Counterpart’s Joint Mailing in which presenters attending APAP receive postcards directly. Postcards are also available for artists to distribute at the conference
– APAP listing on the official APAP website, app, and online calendar
– Dedicated artist webpage and calendar event on the DMC website
– RSVP coordination and distribution
• Receive a list of the presenters who attended their showcase to use for personal follow-up
• Have the option to be mentored by an artist from the 2026 TRL cohort
Participation Options
Participation Options: Showcase Track vs. Development Track
Applying to Tour Ready Lab in the SHOWCASE TRACK is an ideal option for those who:
– Work in the dance, dance theater, or multidisciplinary field
– Have identified specific repertoire they intend to tour in 2027-2029
– Have marketing assets such as EPKs, tech riders, and work samples for that repertoire, or drafts to be finalized
– Have toured at least once outside of their home location
– Intend to attend and participate in the APAP 2027 Conference: showcasing, purchasing a conference badge, attending workshops, and conference meet-ups
Applying to Tour Ready Lab in the DEVELOPMENT TRACK is an ideal option for those who:
– Work in any performing arts genre (including dance, theater, music)
– Have never been to a performing arts conference
– Have not yet presented their work outside their home location but are ready to expand their networks with presenters and curators so that they may do so in 2028/2029
– Would like to begin preparing to showcase in a regional or APAP conference in late 2027 or 2028
Showcasing Information
Each showcasing participant will get a 20-minute showcase slot at one of the two locations below. TRL has space for 4 NYCC5 showcasers and 10 Ailey citigroup Theater showcasers. Showcases will take place on January 16 and 17, 2027.
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New York City Center Studios, Studio 5 – January 16, 2027 from 1:20-3pm - Studio 5 is set up for a studio showing (photo here - disregard the seating arrangement) |
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Ailey Citigroup Theater, Main Stage – January 16 & 17, 2027 from 4:15-6:15pm - Fully equipped stage (360 degree view here, tech specs here) |
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Cost to Participate
"I gained so much from the experience: I made new connections with presenters, formed lasting friendships with other artists, enhanced my company materials and increased my visibility, and I got to work closely with Pentacle, a company that I've respected and admired for decades. And finally, I got over the mystique and intimidation of APAP. I am ready for what's next. Thank you!"
—Amanda Szeglowski / cakeface (NYC), TRL 2025 Participant
Cost to Participate
Applying to the program is free. If selected, participant is responsible for the following costs:
$2,000 – Showcase Track at Ailey Citigroup Theater
$1,500 – Showcase Track at New York City Center Studios, Studio 5
$500 – Development Track
Counterpart has space for 10 artists to showcase at Ailey, 4 artists to showcase at NYCC5, and 15 artists to participate in the Development Track.
Artists participating in the Showcase Track of Tour Ready Lab will be required to; 1) become a member of APAP (required to register for the conference), and 2) register for the APAP conference in order to gain access to all APAP events, seminars, showcases, and entrance to the expo hall
Artists participating in the Development Track will not be required to attend the APAP conference and become an APAP member, but it is encouraged for those who seek to fully participate in the TRL experience.
These costs of APAP membership and conference registration are not included in the Tour Ready Lab fee, but participants will be able to take advantage of any discounts that Counterpart is able to obtain. Visit the APAP website for more info.
Past Participants
2026 TRL Alumni
Ailey Citigroup Theater Showcasers
Dancers Unlimited (NYC, Hawai'i)
Drye Marinaro Dance Company (NYC)
KAIROS Dance Theater (Boston)
South Chicago Dance Theatre (Chicago)
Almanac Projects (Philadelphia, Chicago)
NY City Center Studio 5 Showcasers
LayeRhythm (NYC)
Flamenco Arts International (San Francisco, NYC, Spain)
Volta (Los Angeles)
HIVEWILD (NYC)
Non-Showcasing Participants
Rachna Nivas (NYC)
Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre (NYC)
Modern Connections/Jenny Oliver (Boston)
Halie Bahr (Minneapolis)
2025 TRL Alumni
Ailey Citigroup Theater Showcasers
NY City Center Studio 5 Showcasers
Non-Showcasing Participants
Tour Ready Lab supports artists in preparing for touring, however participation does not guarantee bookings or engagements.
Counterpart is an equal employment opportunity provider of services and programming, and we strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply. Counterpart does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy), gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition including genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including transgender status), weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency, where not substantially program-related), citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of service and program engagement, including applications, acceptance, and participation.
For more information, please contact:
