The Boston Dancemakers Residency supports Boston-area dance artists who are striving to develop, adapt or reinvent their creative process. Produced through a partnership between Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) and Boston Dance Alliance (BDA), the residency serves as a laboratory for ideas that are in the exploratory phase and need dedicated time and space to be fully realized.
Resources include a regional three-day retreat, six weeks of intensive studio time, discounted rehearsal space, dancemaker and collaborator stipends, and rehearsal pay for up to six dancers. The residency must be used to develop new work and the majority of rehearsal time should be dedicated to the proposed project.
ELIGIBILITY
- Lead artists must be residents of the Boston metropolitan area (within route 495).
- Ensemble/company must include a minimum of three local dancers.
- Choreographer must have created original work for a minimum of four years and have presented the equivalent of one full evening (60 minutes) of their work within the past two years.
- Students enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate programs in any field are not eligible.
- Artists enrolled in the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Regional Dance Development Initiative are not eligible.
- Once awarded a Boston Dancemakers Residency, artists must wait at least three full years before reapplying for the program.
- Applicants must be current BDA members at the time of application and throughout the residency period.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Two Boston-area dancemakers will be invited to participate in the residency program. Each will be awarded:
RETREAT
- A three-day, two-night rehearsal retreat at a regional retreat center within 200 miles of Boston.
- $100 per day of retreat for up to seven people: at least three dancers plus collaborators such as a designer, dramaturg or musician. and choreographer
- Lodging, food and reimbursement for mileage to the retreat center. *If public health circumstances in Massachusetts do not allow for retreat gatherings during the residency period, funds may be reallocated at the discretion of Boston Dance Alliance and the funder.
INTENSIVE
- Six weeks of free, exclusive rehearsal and performance space at BCA for an intensive rehearsal and development process. Rehearsals for the intensive will be held in Martin Hall in the Calderwood Pavilion on the BCA South End Campus. The studio is 33ft x 46ft with hardwood sprung floor, windows and mirrors.
- Additional discounted rehearsal space in Artist Studio Building at BCA for $10/hour, as available, at any point within the residency year. Grantees are also eligible for discounted rehearsal space at Lyric Stage Studio, subject to availability.
- A stipend of $2000 to be used at the dancemaker’s discretion.
- A stipend of $1000 to be used for a collaborator working in a non-dance discipline throughout the scope of project.
- Payment for up to six dancers for an extended rehearsal period. Rehearsal hours are paid at minimum wage, $13.50/hour for up to 72 hours.
- Two hours of business and career consulting with Debra Cash, Executive Director of Boston Dance Alliance.
- Two hours of consulting with staff from New England Foundation for the Arts.
- Twelve hours of artistic mentorship and administrative, production and marketing facilitation from Andrea Blesso, Director of Dance at Boston Center for the Arts.
- Peer feedback sessions with fellow resident dancemakers.
SHOWCASE
- A fully produced performance or work-in-progress showing at Boston Center for the Arts during the final week of studio time. *If public health circumstances in Massachusetts do not allow for performance gatherings during the residency period, public event may be adapted
- Lighting and production assistance from a technical director.
- Access to lighting and sound equipment for showcase performance including risers, pipe and drape, lighting instruments and sound system.
- Photographic and video documentation of the performance.
- Printed promotional materials produced by BCA such as postcards, showcase programs, posters, press outreach.
- Promotion in BCA and BDA program listings and website.
- Resident dance artists may be invited to perform brief excerpts of their work at the BCA Gala, BDA Gala or other organizational events.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated by guest panelists on the following criteria:
- The quality of work shown in the work sample and overall level of professionalism displayed.
- Proposed concept of work to be developed during the residency.
- Potential impact on the development of the artist.
TIMELINE
The 2021–2022 season will include two residencies through the same call for applications. Dancemakers may select six weeks of intensive rehearsal and performance time within the dates listed below.
· Fall - October 25 - November 14, 2021
· Winter - January 10 – February 6, 2022
· Spring - April 25 – June 19, 2022
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are due on Monday, May 3, 2021 by 11pm
This program is open to a range of dance genres and movement-based artists. We welcome applications from choreographers based in the Greater Boston area (within route 495). Artists of color, artists whose original work is based on culturally specific dance forms, and those working in non-proscenium formats are encouraged to apply. Dancemakers stipend for the intensive does not include transportation or housing.
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the end of May 2021. Incomplete applications will not be considered.