MOVEBEMOVED40 DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSIONS OPEN CALL
Applications open: Friday 6th October 2023, 9am
Applications close: Friday 10th November 2023, 12pm
About DanceEast
DanceEast is one of the UK’s leading dance organisations, and the home of dance in the East of England. Our vision is a world where everyone can benefit from the vital and life-enhancing power of dance. Based at the purpose-built Jerwood DanceHouse on the Ipswich waterfront, and delivering dance activity across the region, our impact is felt locally, regionally, and nationally.
We have an excellent track record of supporting artists, including our Associate Artist Programme, residencies, advisories, and development opportunities. Over the years, we have commissioned, and provided seeding funding for a range of artists including, Akram Khan, Dickson Mbi, Jasmin Vardimon, Alexander Whitley, Joseph Toonga, and SAY Dance. We have built a great and loyal audience who attend our exceptional theatre programme. We have developed one of the most sophisticated digital dance suites in the country, set in one of the finest dance facilities, the Jerwood DanceHouse.
About #MoveBeMoved40
DanceEast’s 40th anniversary campaign, #MoveBeMoved40, not only celebrates 40 years of DanceEast, but also the joy that people experience from dance. DanceEast started life in 1983 as Suffolk Dance, renamed to DanceEast in 2000 to reflect an ever-growing position as an umbrella organisation in the Eastern Region. Over the three-month campaign, which begins on Friday 6 October, DanceEast will be sharing 40 extraordinary stories and memories of lives that have been impacted by dance.
About the Commissions
As part of the #MoveBeMoved40 celebrations, DanceEast is delighted to announce that we are offering two £10,000 commissions that reflect our vision of the next 40 years.
The commissions will contribute towards the making of a live dance work incorporating new technologies as a central element of a theatre production.
What are we looking for?
- New exciting, original and innovative ideas that are conceived for live dance performance/experience incorporating technology as a central part of a theatre production.
- Projects that are suitable for touring in small to midscale theatre/performance venues
- Projects that will be available for touring from 2025.
- Projects that are well considered and manageable within the time period.
- Projects that demonstrate the potential to connect with our audience in Ipswich and consider their experience.
What this commission is not:
- Time for research and development.
- Time to trial new technologies.
- For work for non-theatre venues or screen purposes only.
- For work that does not include dance and new technologies as the central parts of the production.
- The commission fee is not intended to fully fund the project.
Successful applicants will…
- Have an established practice and track record of making and presenting dance work in a professional context.
- Have an established practice and track record of using technology (either on their own or with a collaborator).
- Have interest in how work that combines dance and technology can inspire and engage audiences from a range of backgrounds.
- Be UK based dance artists.
What is provided?
- £10,000 cash support
- Support up to 20 days of residency time and technical support including use of the DanceEast Green Space, Studio Space and Theatre (up to 5 days max).
- Support from the DanceEast Creative Programme team that can include advice about public engagement and artistic/creative/production process and feedback.
- Support with match funding applications from the DanceEast team, including proof reading, advice and guidance.
- The opportunity to present the project as part of DanceEast’s performance season (fee payable separate to commission amount).
How we work?
- DanceEast recognises the value of diversity across its workforce, collaborators, programme and audiences. We actively seek to broaden the range of people represented in our work and therefore encourage applications from artists from a wide range of ages, background, perspectives and lived experiences.
- We will ensure that all reasonable adjustments are made to make this an inclusive and accessible application process for as many people as possible. We will always try our best but if something poses a barrier to you that we’ve missed, please do get in touch so we can work together to create an accessible process.
Selection Process
Further on from the application stage, the selection will be carried out by a panel of DanceEast team members as well as an independent dance artist or producer, a creative technology specialist and someone from our local audience. We strive to ensure that our panel reflects the artists that we work with in regard to gender, age, ethnicity and sexuality.
- Funding for travel and access costs are available.
- Artists invited to interview will be required to present their idea, how they plan to use the resources, their timeline, and evidence the strength of their current practice and experience incorporating technology.
How to apply:
To apply, please complete either the written or video application form as well as the monitoring form linked below. If this process isn’t accessible to you, please do contact Esther Alcock, Programme Coordinator, on 01473 235581 or Esther.Alcock@danceeast.co.uk and we’d be happy to work with you to find a process that suits your needs.
You can find an MP3 voice recording of the information on this page HERE.
Written Application Form – https://forms.gle/4o2YPJwiaNEuDDEg6
Video Application Form – https://forms.gle/5pSRoULiwa8SPPDm6
Monitoring Information – https://forms.gle/izUQmQCV1ADeZCtR7
You can find a PDF of the questions in the video/written application forms HERE.
You can find an MP3 voice recording of the application questions HERE.
The applicant must…
- Be over 18.
- Be a movement/dance artist with an established practice making work.
- Have an established practice using technology (either on their own or with a technology collaborator).
- Be based in the UK.
- Be an independent artist/company (not a National Portfolio Organisation).
- Not be a full-time student.
Timeline
Applications open: Friday 6 October 2023, 9am
Open zoom Q&A: Wednesday 18 October 2023 6pm and Friday 20 October 2023 1pm
Applications close: Friday 10 November 2023, 12pm
Interviews: Monday 20/ Tuesday 21 November 2023
For more information and to book the Q&A sessions, click here.
