Dance Victoria’s proposal call for its annual Artist Residency program is now open. Independent dance artists and collectives residing in B.C. and interested in a creative residency during the 2024/25 season (July 2024 through June 2025) have until May 31 at 5:00 pm PDT to apply.
Dance Victoria’s mandate is to enhance the appreciation of dance by presenting and developing excellent professional dance; to support emerging dance artists and choreographers; and to engage the community in the celebration of dance.
The Artist Residency program has been evolving for fifteen years and over time, Dance Victoria Studios has grown into a choreographic centre that vitalizes the sector. New improvements to the studios in 2022 further enhanced its adaptability for filmmaking, live-streamed and in-person performance making them a coveted resource for local dance artists. In 2023/24 alone, over 1,000 hours of studio access have been donated to local artists and eleven artists and collectives benefited from Dance Victoria’s Artist Residency program.
The Artist Residency program enables dance artists from diverse backgrounds, experience levels (emerging to established), and disciplines to develop their artistic vision through research/exploration, creation, outreach, and performance. Residencies include access to Dance Victoria’s Quadra Village studios; project support and mentorship; and a direct financial contribution (determined by available funding and project scale). Selected artists spend dedicated time in the studios, have the opportunity to connect with other artists in the Residency cohort, and engage in a customized community engagement activity while in residence. Dance Victoria’s team is committed to supporting a healthy, diverse, and collaborative dance milieu. The Artist Residency program provides a responsive framework to support, inspire and sustain local dance artists, while addressing the challenge of securing accessible and professional rehearsal and performance space in Greater Victoria.
Eligibility
Eligible artists will have:
- Created a minimum of three different pieces, each of five minutes or more;
- Pursued professional training and/or mentorship as either a dancer or creator;
- Worked in the professional dance milieu; and
- Demonstrated a desire to continue to grow their practice and openness to direction.
Dance Victoria welcomes applications from all B.C.-based artists, ranging from emerging to established. Prioritizing support for artists residing on Vancouver Island, selection will also be weighted to new applicants or applicants who have not been supported by Dance Victoria for one of the last two years. Dance Victoria encourages applicants from equity-seeking communities. We welcome applications from persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification and advancement of the arts in our community.
How to Apply
Applicants must read the full proposal guidelines and send their completed proposal to Gillian Jones, Executive Director at [email protected] no later than Friday, May 31, 2024, at 5:00 pm PDT. Applicants may be contacted for additional information during the assessment period. All applicants will be notified about the status of their proposal by July 19, 2024. Questions about the Residency program may be directed to Gillian Jones at [email protected]. Questions about DV Studios’ black-box configuration performance space and technical capacity can be directed to Kiera Shaw, Artist Programs & Studio Manager, at [email protected]. Please contact us if you require accessibility accommodations to complete a proposal, and/or if there are accessibility questions related to your residency.
In addition to free studio time, Dance Victoria is providing artist fees and technical support valued at over $30,000. At various times throughout the year, the public will be invited to meet Residency Artists and experience their works-in-progress at Dance Victoria Studios.
About Dance Victoria
Dance Victoria brings the World’s Best Dance to the Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse and supports the development of new dance for the international stage from its studios in Quadra Village. Dance Victoria is a non-profit charitable society. DanceVictoria.com
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