Do It For The Culture Showcase
Showcase: Sunday, May 30, 2027 · Chicago, Illinois
Festival programming: May 27–30, 2027
The Do It For The Culture Showcase is a mentored performance competition presented on the final day of the Do It For The Culture Festival.
The festival brings together local and visiting artists, educators, cultural leaders, and communities through capoeira, music, movement, history, discussion, and shared cultural practice. The days leading up to the Showcase will include workshops, training, rodas, discussions, and other opportunities for learning and cultural exchange.
On Sunday, May 30, selected ensembles will present original performances rooted in an Afro-Brazilian art form or cultural tradition. The completed works will be presented before a panel of judges as part of a shared public performance program.
We especially encourage ensembles of capoeira practitioners to apply.
Application at a Glance
Festival dates: May 27–30, 2027
Showcase date: Sunday, May 30, 2027
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Application deadline: September 30, 2026, or until all Showcase spaces have been filled
Application fee: $50 per submission
Payment options: Zelle or PayPal
Questions and fee support: quilombocc@gmail.com
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions are encouraged.
About the Showcase
Selected ensembles will participate in a long-term mentorship process over the months leading up to the festival. Through research, creative development, and conversation with their mentors, participants will develop their ideas and prepare their performances for the stage.
Proposed performances must be rooted in an Afro-Brazilian art form or cultural tradition. The Showcase invites participants to engage with the cultural, historical, musical, and creative dimensions of these traditions beyond the athletic or technical aspects of capoeira.
During the Showcase, a panel of judges will evaluate the completed performances. The application review process determines which ensembles will be invited to participate and is separate from the live judging of the final works.
How Applications Will Be Reviewed
Application reviewers will consider:
- The clarity and development of the artistic concept
- The structure of the proposed performance
- Its historical and cultural grounding
- The connection between the work and the ensemble’s experiences or communities
- The project’s potential to develop through mentorship
The application also asks how the proposed work approaches inclusion, audience accessibility, and content or safety considerations.
Applicants do not need to have every detail finalized before applying.
Before You Begin
You may find it helpful to gather the following before starting:
- A general concept for the proposed performance
- An approximate performer list
- Mentor information, if you plan to propose a mentor
- At least one publicly viewable video link
- Your current understanding of technical or staging needs
- Your planned payment method
The application may take approximately 45–60 minutes when these materials are ready.
Please answer based on what you know now. Working titles, tentative structures, organized bullet points, and ideas you would like to explore through mentorship are welcome.
When appropriate, you may write “Not yet determined,” “None at this time,” or “We would like to explore this through mentorship.”
Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and space is limited, we encourage you to submit once your core concept and direction are clear rather than waiting for every detail to be finalized.
Save and Continue Later
You do not need to complete the application in one sitting.
You may save your progress and return to the form using a secure draft link. A Jotform account is not required.
Application Fee and Support
The application fee is $50 per submission and may be paid through Zelle or PayPal.
If the fee would seriously strain your ensemble’s budget or prevent you from applying, you may request a need-based fee waiver or reduction. Requests for fee support will not affect how the artistic proposal is evaluated.
Applicants outside the United States may pay through PayPal or request approval to pay the fee in cash during the festival.
You may submit the application before completing the payment step. However, the application will not be considered complete until the fee has been received or a fee waiver, reduction, or request to pay in cash during the festival has been approved.
Questions or Support
If a question is unclear or you are unsure what information is being requested, please contact the organizing team:
Apply
Complete the Do It For The Culture Showcase application online: