Call for Choreographers

Deadline: Monday, January 14, 2025, at 11:59pm

Dusk Dances is inviting proposals for dance works to be presented at Dusk Dances 2025
at Withrow Park in Toronto from August 2 - August 10, 2025.

Send your proposal to: shivani@duskdances.ca

Photos by Kendra Epik Photography.

We are inviting engaging proposals of solos, duets, trios, and quartets for a remount / re-imagination / adaptation of an already existing dance work. Applications for commissioned works, or for new works still-in-development, will not be considered at this time. Dusk Dances is looking for dance works that are approximately ten (10) minutes in length.

Dusk Dances is a racialized artists-led organization that values equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. We fully welcome and prioritize applications from People of Global Majority, Trans People, Queer People, Disabled People, Black, Asian, South Asian, Latin, Brown, Indigenous, and all named and unnamed folx who feel compelled. We invite you to self-identify in your proposal.

Four to five (4-5) dance works (solos, duets, trios and quartets only) will be selected for Dusk Dances 2025 at Withrow Park by Festival Director Sofi Gudiño, with curatorial support from Sylvie Bouchard.

We welcome proposals from Toronto/GTA-based artists as well as out-of-province artists.

*Please note that the total number of performers (4 maximum) must include all artists who are performing live in the work (e.g. musicians etc.).

ABOUT DUSK DANCES

Dusk Dances is an outdoor dance festival that brings dance to public parks. As dusk descends, a theatrical host leads the audience to an array of unique dance pieces that unfold in different areas of the park.

Choreographers are invited to perform ten-minute pieces inspired by the park’s natural environment. Audiences are invited on a pay-what-you-wish basis to an innovative site-specific festival. 2025 will mark Dusk Dances’ 31st season and the second season with Sofi Gudiño as Festival Director.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

- Choreographers who create site-specific work that engages with and responds to the environment it is danced in, or choreographers who are interested in developing a site-specific practice;

- Choreographers interested in adapting their work for Withrow Park specifically, through rehearsals on-site, with outside eye support from Festival Director Sofi Gudiño;

- Artists / companies that can legally work in Canada;

- Artists who are available for all the performances (from Sunday, August 3rd to Sunday, August 10th, 2025), as well as for a production meeting on Friday August 1st, and a technical rehearsal on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025. Performances commence at 7pm.

* Please note that the dates of Dusk Dances 2025 (August 2 to 10, 2025) are subject to the City's confirmation in January 2025.

* Dusk Dances will not accept proposals from students currently enrolled in a post-secondary college, university, or conservatory institution.

* Decisions will be made by March 11th, 2025 at the latest.

*In exceptional and exciting collaborations, Dusk Dances works with choreographers who engage with community (non-professional) performers alongside professional dancers. These group pieces exceed the maximum of four performers and often require extra time and outside funding to become realized. If you are working in a community engaged capacity and would like to begin the conversation, we invite you to informally share with Sofi at sofi@duskdances.ca

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Written materials, audio, and video materials will be accepted. For additional access needs, please contact shivani@duskdances.ca.

1. In PDF format, please share with us:

- contact information (name, address, phone, email, website);

- a biography (maximum 350 words), which includes information about your choreographic experience and artistic motivation (recent works, residencies, commissions, awards, etc.);

- an online link to watch a full-version of the work you are proposing.*

*The length of the proposed work (must be approximately ten (10) minutes in length).

* Please note that the proposed work can be an excerpt from a longer work.

*If you are proposing an excerpt of a longer work, please submit the full-length video, and identify the section (s) that you plan to remount (include time-code markers). Please specify whether you will adapt this piece into a solo, duet, trio, or quartet.

*Please do not include additional video documentation for other choreographic works - we will only view video of your proposed work.

2. In 500 words, or 5 minutes of video/audio content, please share with us the following:

- the title of the proposed work and a one-paragraph piece description;

- a paragraph regarding your previous experience with creating site-specific works, highlighting any outdoor presentations. If you do not have previous experience with creating site-specific / outdoor works, tell us about why you are interested in site-specific / outdoor presentations;

- a brief statement, describing your interest in adapting this proposed work for an approximately ten (10) minute presentation in an outdoor setting, and how you will accomplish this.

DUSK DANCES WILL PROVIDE

- a presentation fee that covers rehearsals, a performance fee for the artists and a fee to the choreographer;

- all logistics for the festival, including the venue;

- technical personnel and equipment (including microphones and sound systems);

- marketing and publicity (posters, postcards, newsletters, social media, house programs);

- Per diem and accommodation costs for out-of-province artists.

*For reference, Dusk Dances pays a fee to the applicant, who then will disseminate it to their cast. The fees per piece are $4,500 for a solo, $7,000 for a duet, $9,000 for a trio, and $11,500 for a quartet. These fees include the choreographic fee, rehearsals, remount, and the presentation of the work.

HOW TO APPLY

Kindly send your application to Shivani Joshi at shivani@duskdances.ca (with “Call for Choreographers 2025” in the subject line) by Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. Applications must be submitted as one (1) PDF file, in addition to an audio/video response format.

SUPPORT FOR APPLICANTS

Dusk Dances will organize the following activities to support those interested in submitting their application for Dusk Dances 2025:

Zoom conversation about the Call for Choreographers

On Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 from 10am-11am EST, you can join us for a Zoom call with Festival Director and Curator Sofi Gudiño. The Zoom conversation is open to anyone from the community who would like to learn more about the call and clarify the application process.

Walk through Withrow Park

Festival Director and Curator Sofi Gudiño is offering an opportunity to those interested in applying to get to know the location where Dusk Dances takes place. Walk through Withrow Park (Toronto, ON) and be inspired by its magical setting.

There will be one one-hour long walk on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 at 10am EST