The American College Dance Association (ACDA) will bring its 2026 New England regional conference to The Dance Complex in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from February 19–22, marking the first time the event will take place outside a college campus in the organization’s more than 50-year history.

Centered on the theme “Dance in Real Life,” the conference is set to welcome over 250 college dancers and faculty members from two dozen regional colleges, including Boston University, Bridgewater State University, Central Connecticut State University and Connecticut College, and Clark University, to name a few. Participants from institutions outside the region, like Iowa State University, Washington University, Montclair State University, Hofstra University, and Pace University, are also expected.

Located in Cambridge’s Central Square, The Dance Complex’s five-floor facility will serve as the primary hub for classes, professional-development sessions, and showings of in-progress student works. Participants will also engage with local dance artists and cultural organizations, such as José Mateo Ballet Theatre, Cambridge Arts, Boston Dance Alliance, and ArtsBoston—offering a firsthand look at real-world career pathways in dance.

Through partnerships with local businesses, including restaurants, retailers, and event spaces, the conference will also extend beyond the studio, immersing participants in Cambridge’s vibrant creative community.

“This season is about reflection, innovation, and strengthening ACDA’s foundation while embracing an expanded vision of where and how dance education happens,” said ACDA’s executive director Mattie Fenton in a recent press release. “We are deeply committed to our academic partners, and we are ready to grow alongside the broader dance ecosystem.”

“That we are involved with student dance artists as they transition into the ‘real world’ is so fitting,” added The Dance Complex executive director Peter DiMuro. “The growth and evolution of this conference is something to be celebrated.”