Photo by Jennifer Magnuson, Baby Viking PhotographyPhoto by Jennifer Magnuson, Baby Viking PhotographyApplications are now closed for the 2024–2025 Season.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Dance Lab at Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) offers resources for dance-based artists to research, expand, and rebuild work at varying stages of development. Designed to amplify and support a project over the course of a five-week time period, Dance Lab at BCA offers three dance-based artists support for research, development, rehearsal, outreach, and mentorship. Resources will be tailored for dancers at all stages of experience and point of their artistic arc for the selected project.
Resources for each Dance Lab Resident:
Space
40 Hours of Rehearsal Space within a 5 week period of March 3 – April 7, 2025 considered the Lab dates.
8 Hours of Rehearsal Space each week within the Lab dates.
1 Week of Open Showing Space within the final week of Lab dates March 31 – April 7, 2025, to share work created with guests, mentors, VIPs, and peers for feedback.
1 year of 50% Discount on BCA rehearsal space rentals after residency completion.
5 years of Alumni Discount on all BCA space rentals after residency completion.
Documentation
Video documentation of the Open Showing to be used for choreographic archive and industry outreach.
Professional Development Opportunities such as artistic mentorship, industry advocacy, grant writing support, organizational coaching, and outreach facilitation by Andrea Blesso, Director of Dance & Interdisciplinary Arts.
Grant Value is over $10,000
ELIGIBILITY
- The residency must be used to research, expand, and/or rebuild work and rehearsal time must be dedicated to the proposed project.
- Lead dance-based artists must be residents of the Boston metropolitan area (within route 495).
- This program is open to a range of dance genres and movement-based artists. Artists of color, artists with disabilities, artists whose original work is based on culturally specific dance forms, and those working in alternative formats are encouraged to apply.
- Once awarded a Dance Lab, artists must wait at least two full years before reapplying for the program.
- Students enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate programs in any field at the time of application are not eligible.
CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1. Proposed concept of work to be developed during the residency.
- What do you plan to research, explore, or further develop during the residency?
- What are your goals for this residency?
2. Potential impact on the growth of the dance artist’s career and risk taken in the creative process.
- How would this residency push you to take a creative risk, adapt your process, or propel your career?
- Why must you work on this project at this point in your career?
3. Clarity of work shown in application materials and overall capacity to bring a concept from idea to draft presentation.
- Include a video sample link of your work (no longer than five minutes) that most closely supports the proposed concept.
- Please do not submit highlight reels or promo videos.
- How does your work sample(s) relate to what you will develop during the residency?
HOW TO APPLY
- Applications were due on Monday, May 27, 2024 by 11pm and are now closed.
Watch the virtual info session here
Andrea Blesso, Director of Dance & Interdisciplinary Arts, Boston Center for the Arts (andrea@bostonarts.org) is available to answer questions and provide additional information about the residency.
Current Residents
Past Residents
- Audrey MacLean (2023)
- Laila Franklin (2023)
- Wendy Jehlen (2023)
- Jenny Oliver (“Untitled”, 2022)
- Rachel Linsky (“The Schulhoff Collaboration”, 2022)
- Resident Ilya Vidrin (“Otherwise”, 2021)
This special opportunity is made possible by the Liberty Mutual Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and National Endowment for the Arts.