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Northern School of Contemporary Dance Open Call: VERVE Research Commissions 24/25

Northern School of Contemporary Dance Open Call: VERVE Research Commissions 24/25

admin 14/06/2024 Dance News UK No Comment

VERVE Research Commissions are an opportunity for artists, of any movement background, to share their on-going research with VERVE dancers. Applications for 2024/25 are now open.

These commissions support artists in building a relationship with VERVE through a week of research and practice-sharing, bookended by bespoke support from VERVE Artistic Director & Course Leader Matteo Marfoglia (Matteo.Marfoglia@nscd.ac.uk).

They are a paid opportunity to work with the company by sharing an established research practice, giving the dancers experience of a quick creative process.

Each commission is bespoke, shaped by the selected artist and the Artistic Director to support their preparation, their work onsite and the development of the creative process. VERVE is looking for artists who are comfortable with sharing an established research practice and can work quickly with a large group of people.

Artists will also have the opportunity to connect to other areas of NSCD beyond VERVE, discussing their work with a range of staff overseeing artistic commissioning and development.

Selected artists will receive bespoke research and creative time in the studio with highly skilled dancers, minimum five days. Additionally, they’ll receive access to VERVE wardrobe for costumes and two hours with the technical team before the final sharing. The final outcome can be shared in various ways ( e.g. in a physical space at NSCD, in digital formats, or site-specific settings)

Artists will receive support before, during and after your time with the company from the Artistic Director, Matteo Marfoglia, as well as access to a professional photographer and/or videographer to capture the creative process and for the artist to have the documentation material after the residency week. As an added benefit, artists will have the opportunity to discuss and share your practice with NSCD staff who oversee commissioning and professional development opportunities in a variety of areas.

Artists will be given a fee of £750, plus travel expenses and accommodation if needed. (£750 fee is inclusive regardless if you are applying as a solo artist or as a collective), and an amount of £350 for materials and production elements if needed.

VERVE is seeking two artists in this initial call and the call is open to EVERYONE:

  • Those with a distinctive physical research practice that may be based in any movement style
  • Artists at any stage of their career development and that have experience in facilitating a quick creative process.
  • Those interested in scaling up their practice with a larger group of dancers
  • Those interested in building a collaborative relationship with NSCD
  • Previous applicants are welcomed

NSCD believes that diversity and a diverse workforce is critical to its future development. They encourage applications from those they do not know, as well as those who may also have engaged with NSCD previously. They specifically welcome applications from those artist from different movement art forms as well as contemporary dance.

Successful artists will each be allocated either the week of 4 November or a week in Spring 2025. Please specify your availability and preference in your application.

Applications are due by 28 June, with interviews taking place 23 & 24 July. Click here to learn more.

VERVE Open Call Research Commissions, Image credit NSCD