UPCOMING DEADLINES

Dance artists can apply for a wide range of programs and awards which support research, creation, professional development, and public engagement. 

  • Dance artists working in all traditions and genres, and at all career stages, are welcomed.
  • Dance Centre membership is required for all programs.
  • A call for submissions is issued each fall for the following season. Some programs such as 12 Minutes Max have deadlines throughout the season.

How to apply:

  • Read the guidelines below.
  • Review current programs on our website to determine which is a fit for you.
  • Contact the Programming Coordinator if you wish to discuss your project in more detail: 604.606.6405 programming@thedancecentre.ca
  • Submit your proposal online.

Programs

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: CREATE + ENGAGE

When:
Season-wide
Who can apply:
Full Artist and Company members
Level:
Emerging, mid-career, established
  • The AIR program supports artists in the creative development of new work, and connects them with wider audiences through outreach and adjunct activities.
  • Artists receive fully-subsidized studio and/or theatre space, with potential for supported presentation and participation in other programs; exchange and networking opportunities; and staffing and resource support for outreach initiatives.
  • Proposals should articulate how a residency would be a creative contribution to your needs, and show a clear goal related to your professional path. You should also include outreach ideas to engage a broader community, such as studio showings, talks, or classes.
  • Larger projects must include a secured funding contribution or other confirmed financial support.
  • Creativity, collaboration and exploration are encouraged when developing outreach activities.
  • Local artists collaborating with other artists from across Canada and abroad are also eligible.
Call for submissions for 2021-2022 season opens Fall 2020
Dance artists perform in Bound Inch

DANCELAB: INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

When:
Season-wide
Who can apply:
Full Artist and Company members
Level:
Emerging, mid-career, established
  • The DanceLab supports research and collaboration between dance artists and those working in other art forms (eg film, music, theatre, visual art), aiming to enhance dialogue, provoke thought, encourage risk, and develop opportunities.
  • Your proposal must articulate a clear goal, and include collaborators from other disciplines: this program is not a substitute for rehearsals.
  • Participants receive up to 40 hours of fully-subsidized studio space; and host an open studio sharing for peers and the public to discuss and observe the research process.
  • DanceLab is an ideal precursor to Artist-In-Residence.
Call for submissions for 2021-2022 season opens Fall 2020

DANCE IN VANCOUVER: BIENNIAL PLATFORM

When:
November 2021
Who can apply:
Full Artist and Company members
Level:
Emerging, mid-career, established
  • DIV contributes to the dissemination of choreographic works through touring and exchanges, fosters collaboration among dance communities regionally, nationally and internationally, connects artists with presenters, and contributes to the strengthening of the dance infrastructure in BC.
  • Events include public performances, studio showings and specific programming for presenters who attend from across Canada and around the world.
  • Artists may apply for Mainstage Performances (completed and tour-ready works, tech rider required); Studio Showings (completed or works in progress); and Special Projects.
Call for submissions for 2021 edition opens Fall 2020
Dancers from Vancouver Tap Dance Society perform

DISCOVER DANCE! PERFORMANCE SERIES

When:
Monthly September– November 2020, March – May 2021
Thursdays at noon + optional evening show same day
Who can apply:
All members
Level:
Mid-career, established
  • Popular, informal, low-tech performance series promoting BC-based dance of all genres and cultural traditions to a broad audience.
  • Fun, entertaining, educational shows combine performance, discussion, Q&A sessions and at times audience participation, lasting one hour in total.
  • Your show should be polished, engaging and lively: this program is also well suited to assist you in promoting your upcoming activities.
Call for submissions for 2021-2022 season opens Fall 2020
Dance students bend with arms raised in an open house class

SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE OPEN HOUSE: COMMUNITY EVENT

When:
September 12, 2020
Who can apply:
All members
Level
Emerging, mid-career, established
  • Open House offers a day of free events in a diverse range of dance styles for a broad public, in an informal, welcoming atmosphere.
  • You may propose a class/workshop, studio showing/open rehearsal, performance, talk, installation, or any other engaging, accessible event.
Call for submissions for 2021 edition opens Fall 2020
Dancers perform in the lobby of the Vancouver Public Library for International Dance Day

INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY: CELEBRATING THE ART OF DANCE

When:
April 29, 2021
Who can apply:
All members
Level:
Emerging, mid-career, established
  • IDD is a global celebration of the art of dance through free, engaging public events
  • Activities may include informal performances, workshops, classes, studio presentations and more.
  • Your event should be accessible and engaging for a broad audience.
  • Partnerships with other organizations, schools and venues are encouraged.
Call for submissions for 2022 edition opens Fall 2020
Company 605 performs inside Scotiabank Dance Centre

BRING YOUR OWN PROJECT

When
Season-wide
Who can apply:
All members
Level:
Emerging, mid-career, established
  • For any proposals which don’t fit into the above programs, such as:
  • One-time special projects or partnerships; programming beyond the stage (online media, dance video projects, and related initiatives); discourse projects (roundtables, panels, writing, ideas exchange); and exhibitions (dance-related visual arts and media-based installations).
Call for submissions for 2021-2022 season opens Fall 2020

Other Programs

Three dance artists hold another on top of them while posing

12 MINUTES MAX

When:
Fall, Winter, Spring + June 2020 performance
Who can apply:
Full Artist and Company members
Level:
Emerging
  • 12MM aims to foster experimentation and the development of a choreographic idea or work-in-progress, from the initial stages through to the first public encounter.
  • Artists have access to support and feedback from the facilitators, the opportunity to share the work with their peers in the program, and participate in community dialogues with audiences at public showings.
  • Participants receive subsidized studio space at Scotiabank Dance Centre, and participate in an informal public showing.
  • At the end of the season, the facilitators will identify a selection of the works for further development and the introduction of production elements, leading to a ticketed performance at Scotiabank Dance Centre.
Deadlines for the 2019-2020 season have now passed: 2020-2021 season deadlines will be announced in the summer.
The seats and stage of the Faris Family Studio

OPEN STAGE

When:
February 11 + May 11, 2020
Who can apply:
Full Artist and Company members
Level:
Mainly emerging but artists at all career stages are eligible.
  • Open Stage is a new opportunity for artists to share an evening of performance with their peers in the theatre at Scotiabank Dance Centre. The Dance Centre will provide free theatre rental, 1 Head Technician and 1 crew, front of house/box office personnel, ushers, and limited umbrella marketing through digital channels. Box office revenues (suggested donation at the door of $10-15) will be shared between participants, based on a 75/25 split with The Dance Centre.
  • Spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The duration of each work should be 12-30 minutes. Each artist will receive up to one hour of technical rehearsal, working with the theatre house plot. Artists will need to work collaboratively on scheduling, program order, and marketing.
  • Apply by email, providing the name of the work, running time, number of dancers, a short bio, a SHORT description (500 words max) of the work, and your preferred show date.
The deadline for this program has now passed

Awards

Portrait of dance artist Julia Taffe

ISADORA AWARD

When:
Spring 2020
Who is eligible:
Full Artist/Company members
Level:
Established
  • Initiated by The Dance Centre in 1999, the Isadora Award is aimed at recognizing an established, professional choreographer or dancer who has made an outstanding contribution to the quality of dance in BC. The award is open to choreographers and dancers of all dance disciplines.
  • The recipient will receive a specially-designed award created by renowned glass sculptor Mary Filer, rehearsal space at Scotiabank Dance Centre to a value of $1000, and $500 cash.
  • This will be the final year of the Award in recognition of career achievement: a newly designed Isadora Award will be launched in 2020.
NEXT DEADLINE: TBA
Portrait of Jamie Robinson

IRIS GARLAND EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD

When:
Award presented Spring 2021
Who is eligible:
Full Artist and Company members
Level:
Emerging
  • The IGECA is presented every two years to a senior dance student or emerging dance artist between 19 and 35 years of age who demonstrates exceptional choreographic ability and the potential to realize a future in the creative realm of dance.
  • The Award invests up to $5,000 into the chosen work, to be used towards the creation and/or production costs of presenting the work in the Faris Family Studio at Scotiabank Dance Centre.
NEXT DEADLINE: Call for submissions opens Fall 2020
Portrait of Lola MacLaughlin

THE LOLA AWARD

When:
Award presented Spring 2020
Who is eligible:
Full Artist/Company members
Level:
Mid-career, established
  • The biennial Lola Award was created in memory of the much-loved Vancouver choreographer Lola MacLaughlin who passed away in 2009.
  • Worth $10,000, the Award is given to a mid-career or senior level choreographer, highly respected by his/her peers, who has demonstrated an adventurous willingness to push beyond the boundaries of movement/dance performance into collaborative, interdisciplinary work that draws on elements of spoken word, theatre, video, design, visual arts, music composition and/or other media.
NEXT DEADLINE: Call for submissions opens Fall 2021