Choreographic Residency
Stapleton School of the Performing Arts understands the value of investing in the next generation of dance makers.
Our Choreographic Residency program awards emerging and mid-career choreographers based in the San Francisco Bay Area with:
20 hours of free rehearsal space
Mentorship from our world-renowned faculty
One in-studio performance
Guest teaching opportunity for our advanced students and extended community
Features on our website and social media
Discounts on future studio rentals
Discounts on adult classes
The Choreographic Residency program’s mission is to:
Invest in the next generation of dance makers by awarding emerging and mid-career artists with the vital resources they need to make dances, improve their craft, and gain exposure
Foster community by way of in studio performances and Q&A’s
Promote the art of dance by offering accessible, free public performances
Application Requirements
Must be a resident of one of the following counties in California: Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, or Sonoma
Must be between the ages of 22-45
Must have a proven history of involvement in the dance field
Applications for our 2024 Choreographic Residency will open August 1st, 2023 and will close October 1st, 2023. All applicants will be notified with a final decision by November 1st, 2023. The dates of the residency are flexible and negotiable based on the needs of the artist and our studio availability.
To apply, please email Janell McFarland, Managing Director: janell@stapletonschool.org with the following:
Resume/CV
Work Sample (YouTube and Vimeo links preferable)
Cover Letter outlining your interest in our Choreographic Residency program and what you hope to gain
Proposed dates and times of your 20 hours of studio space and in studio showings
Stapleton School of the Performing Arts is an equal opportunity organization. All applicants will be considered without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We encourage BIPOC, AAPI, and LGBTQIA+, and female identifying choreographers to apply.
Photo credit: Dancer Héctor Jaime, Photographed by @queeringbeauty
Past Recipients
2022 Choreographic Resident: Héctor Jaime and Xochipilli Dance Company
Testimonials
“The choreographic residency with Stapleton School of the Performing Arts led to the completion of “Sirenas del Desierto” which premiered at the 2022 Sii Agua Si Festival. The professional development and mentorship offered by Casey Lee Thorne and staff facilitated the launch of our first website. To those who want the opportunity to experiment with movement - XDC strongly encourages you to apply to this residency. It is a great way to expand movement vocabulary in an environment full of creativity, support and wisdom.” - Héctor Jaime of Xochipilli Dance Company
“The choreographic residency with Stapleton School of the Performing Arts, facilitated by Casey Lee Thorne, supported the creation of an original movement installation in collaboration with a dancer, composer, and animation designer. This work served as the seed for a larger work to be set on an ensemble of pre-professional dancers in Winter 2023. The space and production assistance for interdisciplinary projects like these are scarce in Marin county - this was a wonderful opportunity to invest in an idea independent of anyone's vision other than myself and my collaborators. The residency period was also enhanced without the pressure of an untouchable product that had to be presented at the end of said period, but instead the time to experiment in what it means to present a work-in-progress and explore the origin of movement material as a choreographer.” - Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes