Application for Residency

Description

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 selfdirected
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.

Guidelines

The following terms apply when making an application for a residency through the University of Calgary Dance Alumni
Choreographic Residency Program:

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 deadline for
the 2024 Artist-in-Residence Program is April 10, 2024 for the period May 1 to August 31, 2024.

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).

Please note that successful applicants will be required to pay a key deposit of $100, as well as a $100 Damage/Cleaning
Deposit. The deposits will be returned within 30 days after the end of the residency providing keys are returned and
the studio is left in good order.

Selection Panel

All applications will be assessed by a panel of 3-4 members drawn from the University of Calgary Dance Division. All
applications will be assessed against the set criteria. Decisions will reflect the majority opinion of the panel present.
There will be no appeal process, but applicants are welcome to apply for the next deadline.

Selection criteria
 

Applicants must be:
 

• A graduate from the University of Calgary Dance Program with a BFA Dance, BA Dance or a BA
  Dance/BKinesiology combined degree
• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada (priority given to Calgary-based artists)
• Choreographers who have presented at least 1 work publicly in a professional context (not including school or
  pre-professional works)

Applications will be assessed primarily on:

• The match between the application and the Residency Program guidelines
• The clarity of the proposal or idea presented
• The potential for a residency to facilitate creative growth for the applicant
• A match between studio availability and choreographer’s request for space
• The potential for the requested studio time to result in a successful realization of project goals
• The strength of the artist/team of artists involved
• The potential of the work to have future presentation

To Apply
 

Using no more than 2-3 pages, please outline to us:

• Your name and contact details
• A short description of your project
• Your plans for the proposed work and how this project fits in with your wider goals/practice/development
• Whether the residency will be used for research, development, and/or final phase of production
• How many artists will be rehearsing in the space
• Your desired residency schedule (please provide a first and second choice if possible)
• Links to two video selections of recent work (no more than 10-minutes in total – if you wish the panel to review
  a specific section from a longer work, please specify time codes)
• Your interest level in auditioning the work for Dance Montage

In addition to the above application, please send a 1-3 page dance resume or 1-page bio.

Completed applications should be returned by email to dancedivisionlead@ucalgary.ca by 5 pm on April 10. The
meeting to assess the applications will take place within two weeks of the deadline. Applicants will be notified within
three weeks of the deadline.

The University of Calgary Dance Alumni Choreographic Residency Program is a program initiated by the University of
Calgary Dance Division at the School of Creative and Performing Arts