VDA Residency Program
Sponsoring high-quality dance made in Vermont
Vermont is already home to world-class talent. But too often, you’d never know about it.
It’s difficult to imagine the bewildering emptiness of a world without art. Art gives us so much: a healing sense of awe; revelations about ourselves and the world that we couldn’t otherwise articulate; new perspectives. It evokes the calming, exalting experience of beauty. It helps us define our values. Great art can become a historical artifact of our civilization.
We get inestimable value from art. Yet, artists are largely expected to create at their own personal sacrifice. This is the experience of most dance artists in Vermont.
VDA is launching a paid residency program to (1) retain talent in Vermont by creating new career pathways for dance artists; (2) increase public awareness about and appreciation for the high level of dance talent right here in our state.
ABOUT
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• Dance artists of any genre, race, physical ability, age, or background who are residents of Vermont or live within a 20-mile radius of Vermont.
• Applicants must be active members of VDA. “Active” means current in their membership; participation within our dance community will also be considered.
Preference will be given:
• To applicants who have already created an evening-length work (at least 60 minutes) within the last three years. We seek dancemakers who are actively working at their craft at the present time.
• To applicants who demonstrate consistency in their quality of work.
• To applicants who are actively involved within Vermont’s dance community.
• Please note that students enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate programs in any field at the time of application are not eligible.
• Once awarded a VDA Residency, choreographers must wait at least three full years after their residency season before reapplying.
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• A stipend for the artist-in-residence, which should also be used to pay any ensemble dancers.
• 6 months of free studio space. We have partners in northern and southern VT who are providing space (be in touch if you’d like to donate space!)
• Photography and videography documentation of rehearsal and performance.
• A statewide tour with at least five stops in Vermont. This comes with production support, like lighting and sound design.
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Since its founding, VDA has sought to represent dancers of all genres from every corner of the state. Being a dance artist in Vermont is hard; creating change will require a coming together of our community in mutual support, a shared vision for the future of dance in Vermont, and collaboration. This is why we ask applicants to demonstrate their community involvement.
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• Reflect technical and choreographic excellence.
• Are culturally relevant.
• Are innovative and thought provoking.
• Are accessible to the general public.
• Are 45–75 minutes long.
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That talented dance artists representing a diversity of genres, backgrounds, and abilities are given a safe space to tell their stories and bring their perspectives to a large audience.
That more dance artists in Vermont are paid for their craft, and are given the time and resources to advance their careers.
That dance in Vermont gains a broader platform, understanding, and appreciation among the general public.
That more Vermonters have access to excellent dance.
To elevate Vermont’s national standing within the performing arts industry, thereby drawing in new funding and talent and expanding the perceived inherent value of dance.
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The arts thrive on diversity. Uniqueness of perspective, experience, expression, medium, and presentation drives innovation in the arts and makes art meaningful to more people. Therefore, a primary goal of the residency is that it serves a diversity of artists. Diversity includes gender, race, physical ability, culture, age, economics, geographic location, and dance genre.
To cultivate diversity, it is necessary that the program be equitable. We are facilitating equity in these ways:
• The application is free.
• We will ensure the application process is accessible to those with diverse needs, and will provide assistance in multiple ways (Zoom workshop, telephone, email).
• Our selection panel reflects the diverse communities we want to serve.
• Panelists are made aware of our goals and values for the residency.
• We are building checks and balances into the selection process in order to identify and correct assumptions.
• We will create a safe space for requests and feedback from participants and applicants.
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• Application deadline: July 15th (application period opening June 1st)
• 2025 Artist(s) in Residence announced mid-September
• January - June 2025: Residency rehearsal period
• Summer/Fall 2025: Residency tour
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In addition to providing demographic data (to help us track our DEI benchmarks), applicants will be asked:
To share the URL to their member page in VDA’s artist directory
To talk about their involvement with VDA and the broader dance community
What they hope to accomplish with the residency
To share their concept for a new work
To upload their dance CV
To provide a link(s) to a reel(s)
To provide a link to their website and/or a full-length work they previously choreographed.
Thank you to our partners for making a residency possible!
