Application Deadline: Tuesday 3 May
Auditions: Wednesday 25 May
Project Dates: 2-27 August 2016
Performances: 24, 25, 26, 27 August
Step Up: Dance Project is a partnership between Dance Limerick, Dance Ireland and the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick, which aims to bridge the gap between dance education and professional contemporary dance practice in Ireland.
In its sixth year, Step Up 2016 is delighted to announce an expanded programme of training, rehearsals, performance and personal development for six selected dancers who have completed their professional training within the last three years.
The Step Up programme will enhance these dancers’ professional networks by connecting them to the Irish contemporary dance community and thereby improving their professional opportunities in Ireland.
This new expanded programme includes the following elements:
– Creation & Performance
– Repertory Programme
– Dancers as Entrepreneurs
– Personal Development
Creation & Performance
The creation and performance of a new dance piece by Choreographer Lea Anderson (UK).
The rehearsal / performance period will run from 2 – 27 August. Dancers will reside at UL during the rehearsal period, using state of the art studios and facilities at the Irish World Academy. Accommodation will be provided and participants will receive an honorarium for their involvement to assist with travel and living expenses. Performances will take place on 25, 26 and 27 August at Dance Limerick, Firkin Crane in Cork and DanceHouse in Dublin respectively.
Further information about Lea Anderson is available at www.leaanderson.com
The Repertory Programme – Learning and Performing Repertory:
This new addition to the programme enables Step Up dancers to work with professional artists on the reconstruction/setting of existing choreography. Participants will gain an understanding of choreographic ideas and their historical context, and will develop their technical and performance skills through different working practices, genres and techniques, resulting in a final public sharing.
The Repertory Programme will take place over two weeks (12 days) with a prominent Irish choreographer and one other choreographer (either national or international, to be announced shortly). In addition, to the training, the Repertory Programme enables participants to work with choreographers beyond what would be available in a day-long workshop or audition, thereby facilitating a more embedded connection between choreographers and participants.
Dancers as Entrepreneurs:
Increasingly, independent dancers and dance artists are required to work in an entrepreneurial fashion, initiating opportunities for themselves and managing their own projects. This programme will run over 1-2 days in January 2017.
Sample topics may include:
• Developing a portfolio for presenters and for funding applications
• Writing funding applications / writing about your work
• Producing a project / show
At the end of the training, participants will have a toolkit or road map for initiating and managing their own projects.
Personal Development:
In 2016, Step Up aims to facilitate further opportunity for the professional development of young dancers. This element of the Step Up programme offers a menu of options. Participants may choose one element from the sample menu below, or may initiate an area of their own in which they wish to develop. The Step Up Programme Manager will assist with initiating the appropriate conversations with the chosen organisations.
Sample menu of options:
• Working with an artist-in-residence to deliver a particular aspect of the artists’ local programme.
• Working with a company during their research period towards the creation of a new dance piece.
• Taking a series of classes or training opportunities at Dance Ireland, Firkin Crane or Dance Limerick.
• Working with Dublin Dance Festival in a developmental capacity. This might be on audience development, volunteer co-ordination etc.
• Working with a mentor to develop critical writing skills with a view to reviewing dance performances.
• Developing knowledge around working with socially engaged practice by participating in events or workshops organised by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts.
We are seeking applications from exceptional young dancers who will graduate in summer 2016 or who have graduated from professional level dance training within the past three years.
Applicants must be born in, or resident in the Republic of Ireland and have a strong dance technique.
Please send your CV and a web link of recent dance footage, along with a one-page cover letter describing why you would like to be involved in the project. Please include an indication of your availability to participate in the whole programme.
Please e-mail applications by the deadline 5pm, Tuesday 3 May to stepupdanceproject@gmail.com with Step Up Application in the subject line.
A shortlist of applicants will be invited to audition on Wednesday 25 May. Six dancers will then be selected from audition to take part in the Step Up 2016 programme. Letters of offer will be sent immediately following the audition.
Step Up: Dance Project, is a partnership between the Arts Council, Dance Ireland, Dance Limerick and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick.
For any questions about the application process, please contact Jenny Traynor at stepupdanceproject@gmail.com or on 061 467813.
Click on link below for printable version of this Open Call.
