Winter Park, FL – December 6, 2009 – The Center for Contemporary Dance is inviting emerging contemporary/modern dance choreographers and artistic directors to apply for entry into The Center’s Residency Program, which has supported and cultivated six contemporary dance companies over the past eight years.  Artists accepted into the Residency Program receive rehearsal space, business mentoring and production resources that make it possible to publicly showcase new works and, ultimately, allow choreographers to launch their own dance companies.  “The Residency Program is designed to incubate the next generation of contemporary dance professionals,” says The Center’s artistic director Dario J. Moore, “The primary purpose of the program is to allow each Resident Artist to fully develop his or her voice and vision, with an emphasis on exploration, experimentation and above all else, collaborative process.”

A nonprofit arts organization that is also home to a school, The Center for Contemporary Dance was the first dance education center in Central Florida to implement an integrative platform for resident artists to develop new contemporary dance works while building their companies.  “The Residency Program is a unique opportunity for a community of high-caliber dance artists to focus on professional and creative development during a one-year residency,” says The Center’s executive director Craig W. Johnson,  “The Program is a model of process and community building, that strives to have repercussions on a scale beyond that of art making.”  Residents are encouraged to collaborate with each other, without the specific goal or pressure of a performance product, though this may be a natural outcome of the program.  During their residency, artists are supported in developing work of their own design and sharing in each other's process while defining short and long-term creative goals.

The Center for Contemporary Dance encourages contemporary/modern dance choreographers and artistic directors from all backgrounds to apply.  “It is recommended that applicants come not with specific projects in mind, but a willingness to share their skills and sensibilities, and an openness to discovering new projects through collaboration with others,” says Moore. To apply for entry into The Center for Contemporary Dance’s Residency Program, please follow the Application Guidelines outlined below:   

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Postmark Deadline: Monday, March 1, 2010

Residency Term: One year from the date of acceptance.  All decisions announced Monday, April 5, 2010

To apply, send the following materials:

1. One copy of the Application Form.

2. A two page (maximum) C.V., listing most recent accomplishments first, including a listing of choreographic works, performance experience, education, languages spoken and additional dance-related experience.

3. One letter of recommendation from an established professional in the dance field relative to your career progress and/or your collaborative experience.

4. A DVD clearly labeled with your name, showing AT LEAST 2 BUT NO MORE THAN 3, representative samples of your work as a performer, improviser, and/or choreographer – A COMBINED TOTAL LENGTH OF 10 MINUTES MAXIMUM. Additionally, the applicant MUST appear in at least one of the samples. DVDs in any regional format are accepted.

5. The Video Description Form.

Send application to:

The Center for Contemporary Dance
Residency Programs
3580 Aloma Avenue #7
Winter Park, FL  32792

Email questions or further inquiries to Artistic Director Dario J. Moore at Dario(at)TheCenterForDance.org.