Alumni

The University of Calgary Dance Alumni Choreographic Residency Program is a program that aims to facilitate the choreographic growth of University of Calgary’s Dance Program graduates. The residency works to support the research, development, and/or final phase of production for independent choreographers that are also University of Calgary Dance Program graduates. Artists-in-residence are granted rehearsal space free of charge to work on self-directed projects that are targeted for production. During the residency, artists will have access to one studio at the University of Calgary for a maximum of 60 hours between May 1 and August 31. This arrangement is designed to allow artists the time and space to hone their choreographic skills and outputs.  

Priority for residency will be given to University of Calgary Dance Program graduates who are also independent choreographers working to produce professional level performance. All University of Calgary Dance Program graduates with a solid project proposal who are committed to the creation and performance of professional level work are encouraged to apply. Recent graduates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Residency schedule – Applicants may request up to 8 weeks of rehearsal time (60 hours maximum) between the dates of May 1 – August 31. Studio availability occurs between 9 am – 10 pm. Priority will be given to applicants that request either full-day rehearsal blocks, OR regular morning, afternoon, or evening blocks. Priority will also be given to rehearsal requests that aim for 2, 3, or 5 rehearsals per week.

All residencies are subject to studio availability; a certain level of flexibility with regard to dates/times may be required to help with the scheduling of residency times. The steering committee is in charge of determining which studio on campus will be made available to the artist-in-residence. Once a residency schedule is confirmed in writing, the dates may not be changed, unless specifically requested and accepted by the residency steering committee. 

The University of Calgary will provide the use of one studio free of charge to the successful applicant. The residency does not come with attendant funding and all applicants are expected to cover any additional costs incurred by the project. Choreographers are encouraged to apply for grant funding to support the fees associated with the developing work. If a choreographer will be using props for their work, the choreographer is responsible for removing the props after each rehearsal (unless in special circumstances where a request has been confirmed with the committee).

Successful residency applicants will also be expected to share with the University dance community in some fashion. This may mean presenting the developing work in an undergraduate composition or dance for the camera class (as appropriate), or coming to speak about surviving the field in the Dance Design and Production class. Residents are also encouraged to audition a completed work for presentation at the current year’s Dance Montage. When appropriate, artists-in-residence also have the option to request an outside eye from the Dance Division for 1-2 sessions during the residency. With approval, successful residency applicants may have the option to self-present an informal studio showing at the end of their residency for a limited number of invited guests (no technical support, other than what is available in the studio, will be provided for these showings).

For more information or questions, please e-mail scpa@ucalgary.ca.