Choreographic Research and Development / Advancing the National Dialogue
From August 13-16, 2009, a committed group of artists, presenters, dance departments, residency and retreat centers, funders from across the country met at MANCC to advance the national dialogue about how we make research and development a more vital cornerstone of what we value and achieve as a field. We came with the same premise -- the understanding that artists need time, space and resources to develop work.
Our intention through the event and follow up activities is to take stock of what resources we have access to and explore, through individual and collective efforts, how we might help one another build a stronger, more impactful dance ecology. Conversations are ongoing and will continue through existing programs and annual convenings including Alliance for Artist Communities, Congress of Dance Administrators, National Dance Project/NEFA, National Performance Network, Dance/USA, and Dance Working Group at APAP.
Below you will find brief video and narrative highlights from the FORUM.
Click here to view full participant list.
Artist-to-Artist Exchange Moderator: Jawole Willa Jo Zollar/Urban Bush Women/FSU
Lead Speakers: Ann Brady/Atlantic Center for the Arts, Simon Dove/Herberger College Dance/ASU, Alex Ketley/The Foundry, Adele Myers/Adele Myers and Dancers
This session focused on two areas of research and exchange - creative process and mentorship – by using Springdance Dialogue, Regional Dance Development Initiative (RDDI), Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange (CHIME) and the residency program of the Atlantic Center for the Arts as a springboard for the conversation.
Activating Empty Spaces / Reusable Resources
Moderator: Yanira Castro/a canary torsi
Lead Speakers: Mary Cochran/Barnard College/Department of Dance, Carla Peterson/Dance Theater Workshop, Nick Stuccio/Philadelphia Live Arts & Fringe Festivals, Kay Takeda/Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
This session focused on organizations reusing spaces that were built for other purposes – academic buildings, office buildings, warehouses, theaters – and transforming them into research and development spaces for dance. Lead speakers discussed the current spaces they are activating along with ideas about what’s next.
Maximizing Residency Opportunities / Framework for Innovation
Moderator: Anna Glass/651 ARTS
Break Out Group Leaders: Moira Brennan/MAP Fund, Sara Coffey/Vermont Performance Lab, Miguel Gutierrez/Miguel Gutierrez and the Powerful People, Ed Noonan/Myrna Loy Center/Helena Presents, Susan Van Pelt Petry/The Ohio State University
During this session, attendees broke out into groups to brainstorm how to maximize creative residency opportunities where artists are creating new work. The breakout group leaders then report out the results and together we assessed the characteristics of ideal creative residencies and in what ways they differ, depending on the context.
Sharing Process with Audiences (Opportunities and Pitfalls)
Moderator: Benjamin Johnson/Northrop – University of Minnesota
Lead Speakers: Stanford Makishi/Baryshnikov Arts Center, Georgiana Pickett/651 ARTS, Jill Sigman/ThinkDANCE, Martin Wollesen/ArtPower! At UC San Diego
As the dance field works to create greater access to dance artists, their way of working and their thinking, honing our ability to effectively share process is key and, at times, a stumbling block. Lead speakers offered ideas that have worked along with those that haven’t in an effort to understand what’s possible and what to avoid.
Making the Case/Asset Mapping
Presenters: Caitlin Strokosch/Alliance of Artists Communities and Jane Forde/New England Foundation for the Arts
Strokosch began this session with a discussion about “Artist Communities: Making the Case,” a report on perception research conducted by the Alliance of Artists Communities that solicited feedback on how the Alliance and the field can better communicate their value and increase their visibility to others. Forde followed to discuss a study that the New England Foundation for the Arts is currently conducting evaluating the dance field’s assets (and gaps) in support for the development of work.
Partnership Strategies
Moderator: Bonnie Brooks/Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Lead Speakers: Lili Chopra/French Institute Alliance Française, Dana Whitco/Center for Creative Research, Reggie Wilson/Fist & Heel Performance Group
What is the value and practice of strategic alignments and substantive partnerships in support of research and development in dance? Lead speakers put forward and considered prime examples and models as a way into the possibilities and results of strategic partnerships along with the nuts and bolts of how it’s done.
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