Unrehearsed Artist Residency Program

Nava Dance Theatre is thrilled to announce the Unrehearsed Artist Residency Program (URP.) Up to five awards will be made to local artists and artists from around the globe. The application deadline has been extended to January 24, 2022 at 11:59 PM (PST).

The Unrehearsed Artist Residency Program is an artist fund that supports the creation of new dance work by artists who have faced significant challenges in the South Asian dance industry. Here you will find information about this commissioning program. 

This virtual residency program provides awards of up to $1500 to centralize the strengths, experiences, and artistry from 1) historically marginalized communities rooted in South Asia or 2) South Asian identifying folks practicing and creating in artforms that lack structural and organizational support in the South Asian performing arts industry or 3) have a history of using art to elevate awareness of urgent social justice issues. 

Thank you for all the questions that have been coming in! Clarifying some of the common ones below. 

While there may be opportunities to hold in-person events and/or engagement activities, this residency can be completed entirely virtually.

To qualify, you need to be:

• A South Asian identified movement artist (any dance form, i.e. bharatanatyam, odissi, kathak, Bollywood, western forms, drag, etc.) OR anyone practicing a South Asian dance form

• Creating a new or reimagined dance-based work

Then also ONE of the following:

• Those who identify as hereditary dance practitioners, and/or identify as caste oppressed

• A racial, religious, or cultural minority in the South Asian dance form you practice (i.e. Black, Malaysian, Muslim, Christian, or others)

• Those identifying as LGBTQIA+

• Those who encounter systemic difficulties (due to immigration status, country of origin) preventing them from creating work or self producing

• Those practicing a rare art form that isn’t often supported through performance or funding opportunities (kandyan, chhau, koodiyattam, mohiniattam, sattriya, koothu, and others) 

• Those who have historically used their form to address social justice issues 

While priority will be given to these folx, the project idea is first and foremost. This means where you are in the process, if you have confirmed collaborators, and what you will be using the time to create.

We also realize we are not able to capture every circumstance. If you believe you have faced systemic difficulties in creating work, or are from a country in South Asia that lacks structural support for the arts, or anything that we haven’t mentioned, please reach out. You likely qualify as well! 

This commitment requires awardees to:

• Present a dance-based work in 2022

  • Pieces that are solo, duet, or groups are all welcome to apply, however commissions will be awarded to one person 

  • Some artists will be asked to submit video footage of their work for public viewing if a live viewing is not possible, additional funds may be provided

• Participation in 2 cohort discussion groups 

• Showcase your project in 1 work in progress showing in March with the cohort and invited guests  

• Have a second open rehearsal for invited guests and be available to attend other artists open rehearsals, if requested

• Participate in an engagement activity, additional fees will be discussed based on the agreed upon activity

• Be able to commit to 50 hours of time in a studio or space of your choice (on your own or with collaborators) over the course of 6 months to create your piece

Apply now by filling out this form!

Example projects are below. Of course these are totally made up, but we want you to get a sense of the kinds of projects that would be a good fit: 

• You are of mixed race/heritage and a choreographer making work with kathak. You are creating a piece inspired by reimagining a mythological story. 

• You are a female identified dancer practicing a form typically meant for cis-gendered men. You are using it to turn expectations and gender roles on its head. You collaborate with other female artists and musicians. 

• You are from a hereditary dance community. You want to create or reimagine archival works on the next generation of dancers in your community. 

• You are gender non-conforming and want to explore South Asian contemporary narratives through the western form you were trained in. You are questioning dance hegemony and want to tear things up a little bit. 

• You are a Malaysian artist trained in a number of different Indian forms, but want to create a piece where all the forms meet in a narrative outside of the Indian pantheon. 

• You are in the diaspora and have been creating work inspired by social justice issues for decades. While you recognize you come from a position of privilege by way of being in the US, you assemble a team of collaborators that come from different backgrounds and explore a narrative together. 

An ideal residency cohort would include artists from many of these kinds of projects. The object being not only to be in process, but to share that process and to learn from each other virtually.

Additional eligibility requirements, applicants must meet the following requirements upon submission of application*:

• Over the age of 18

• Able to receive payment through check, wire transfer, paypal or similar means where you reside

Questions? Or would you like to nominate an artist?

Contact Program Director, Tanu Sreedharan at tanu@navadance.org

*We highly encourage you to reach out to Tanu before submitting your application.

For more information about Unrehearsed Activism, which includes art-centered discussion about caste, race, and marginality in the South Asian arts, click here. This program is supported by the California Arts Council Impact Project and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.