June 2026
Tell Me a Story Campaign
a community‑sourced collaboration that turns writing submissions into dance.
Photo Credit: Bill Cameron
The submission portal is now closed.
Selected submissions will be announced by July 31.
Write a story or poem (1500 words max) inspired by one of these four photographs (CLICK HEREto access the photographs). The four photos are also represented at the bottom of this webpage.
Some guiding questions you could consider when writing -
What happened right before or after this photograph was taken?
Each of these photos captures a moment of change. What is this individual--or these individuals-- transitioning into or out of?
What might the person or people in the photograph be experiencing?
What emotions does the image evoke for you?
Two outstanding submissions will be selected by a panel of community writers, professors, literary artists, and Threads Dance Project’s Artistic and Executive Director, Karen Charles, in late July.
Selected writers will win a $500.00 prize and be a part of the creative process, turning their written word into movement.
Threads honors 15 years of engaging audiences through our work that shares human justice stories - narratives highlighting the universal dignity of humanity, striving to increase access to power and further progress towards a more just and equitable society through Tell Me a Story.
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Launches - June 1, 2026
Application closes - June 20, 2026
Writer(s) selected - Late July
Collaboration - August through November 2026
“Tell Me a Story” written works as dance premiere in Love Evolving. November 2026
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Your story can be in any written format: short story, poem, flash fiction, etc. that could be adapted to live dance performance.
Word count must be 1,500 or less
Writers must be 18 years or older
Submissions must received by end of day, June 20, 2026
Writers must create based on one of the four presented photos. All can be found at the bottom of this webpage.
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For questions regarding the Tell Me a Story Campaign, please reach out to info@threadsdance.org for more information!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.
