Groundwork 2013 - Call for Applications

Call for Applications: Online Catalogue of Tour-Ready BC-Based Contemporary Dance

Made in BC matches up communities with professional dance artists to make cool things happen.  With a network of presenters in Golden, Vernon, Kelowna, Kitimat, Smithers, Prince Rupert, Salt Spring Island, Nanaimo, and Courtenay, and budding community partnerships in other regional communities, we are one of 5 similar arts service organizations across the country.  We work closely with our BC partners, and with our national colleagues, to create opportunities for BC dance artists to share their work and their passion.

Every year since 2006, Made in BC has created an internal catalogue of applicants wishing to tour the network.   Originally a printed book, this has sometimes been shared with presenters in other parts of the country. Last year, we switched to an entirely on-line catalogue, the beta version of which can be viewed here:http://www.madeinbc.org/groundwork2012/

What’s the same?
Made in BC remains dedicated to touring BC-Based Contemporary dance throughout our own network.  We are still inviting applications for inclusion in this catalogue, to be viewed by our Made in BC network members, selected to pitch in late January, and to tour the province in 2014/15.

What’s new?
This year, we are offering a general service to the BC contemporary dance community by inviting applications for inclusion in our online catalogue not only from those dance artists interested in touring the MIBC network, but from all dance artists who have work they would like to tour anywhere in Canada.  This online catalogue will allow you to showcase your work to all of the dance presenters across the country, including those in the CanDance, Ontario Dances, Atlantic Moves, and La Danse sur les Routes networks.  We are hoping that this will increase the profile of BC-based contemporary dance throughout the country, and will provide our own member organizations with a broader picture of dance in the province.

How to apply:

• To download the preliminary Letter of Intent form (Due October 10, 2012), Click Here
• To see full information on the application process, and on touring the network, Click Here

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact our office at info@madeinbc.org, or 604.893.8830.

Inspired Stories

On Friday morning at Breaking New Ground, after the Community Dance Tools Blitz, we sat down to hear and share inspired community dance stories in  a session called Community Engagement Rocks the House.  Dance artists Karen Jamieson, Martha Carter, and Jacci Collins, and community dancer Alison Beaumont, with facilitation by Caroline Liffmann, each shared a community dance experience that had inspired them.  Participants- a mix of dance artists, community dancers, dance presenters and administrators- also discussed the value they saw in community-engaged experiences, and our conversation touched on ideas like the transformative and healing power of dance, both personally and politically; the experience of a nurturing, caring community through dance; the discovery of joy; and the rediscovery of permission to dance.  Graphic recorder Sam Bradd kept a flowing, visual track of our conversation, which you can see here. Photos by Miriam Colvin.

Dancier than you might expect for a conference....

Good times were had at Breaking New Ground, with a great balance of dancing, story-sharing, and thoughtful discussion.  Thanks again to all of you who filled up our workshops with such great energy and ideas! Some photos below of the dancier sessions: Community Dance Tools Blitz at the Roundhouse, with Miriam Colvin and Julie Lebel, which culminated in a flashmob outside near Davie Street.  And, Dancing and Parenting with Julie Lebel, over at the Dance Centre.  Photos by Belle Ancell.

Breaking New Ground 2012: Community Engagement Edition is coming up!

If you're a community dancer, a dance artist, an arts presenter, or someone who cares about building community through the arts, sign up and take part in this active forum.  registration@madeinbc.org

Thursday, September 13th, 2012 (Roundhouse)

7:00 pm to 9:30 pm Workshop:  We are the 25%! (Your Dance Practice meets Community Engagement 101) - Wondering how to ace the Community Engagement section worth 25% of your total mark on your BCAC grant?  Are you looking for ways to use your artistic practice to create meaningful relationships and experiences for communities? Do you want presenters to be excited to bring you to their communities and their audiences? Join us on Thursday Sept 13 as we find innovative ways to work with community members both locally and on tour without stepping outside of your passion.

This workshop is for dance artists.

*Pre-registration is required.  registration@madeinbc.org

Friday, Sept.14th, 2012 (Roundhouse)

9:30 to 11:00 am WORKSHOP: Community Dance Blitz - How does dance help build community relationships?  Come and find out! Join us for a morning of dancing, movement and exploration.  Shake out the cobwebs, shake off the shyness and experience for yourself how dance gets communities engaged.  There will be lots of moving, dancing and learning so please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. No dance experience necessary. 

This is a public event.  

Maximum 40 people.

* Pre-registration is recommended. registration@madeinbc.org

11:15 am to 12:15 pm DISCUSSION: Community Engagement Rocks the House - Professional artists and community dancers explore the ways in which community engagement is vital to both communities and artists.  Dance artists, community members, presenters and outreach coordinators come together to discuss their ideas and explore new possibilities.

This is a public event.

* Pre-registration is recommended. registration@madeinbc.org 

 

12:15 to 1:30 pm Catered Lunch for forum participants

*Pre-registration at 9:30 and 11:15 am events is required.

1:30 to 2:30 pm ARIST TALK: Karen Jamieson - The Karen Jamieson Dance Company has been collaborating with communities and community groups for many years, creating and producing work in dialogue with First Nations artists and cultural practitioners. Come hear Karen speak about her past and current community-engaged projects. Be prepared to move as well as listen!

This is a public event.

2:45 - 4:30 pm WORKSHOP: (Re)discovering your Community:  Applied Practice of Community Engagement with Touring Artists - Each community is different and has different needs. Knowing what those needs are is crucial to creating vibrant and engaging programming. During this workshop we will learn how to map a community's resources, demographics, challenges and opportunities for public engagement.  We will then work with a touring artist on a case study to plan community engagement activities which correspond to the needs of a specific community.

This workshop is for select artists and MiBC presenters / community-based practitioners

*Pre-registration is required.  registration@madeinbc.org

Saturday, Sept. 15th, 2012 (The Dance Centre) 

9:00 to 10:00 am AGM:  Made in BC – Dance On Tour Society Annual General Meeting- MiBC members meet to review Made in BC’s past year and discuss future directions.  

This meeting is for MiBC Society members only.

*Members RSVP on or before Sept 7 

10:30 to 11:30 am WORKSHOP:  Foolish Operations - Dancing the Parenting - Dance artist Julie Lebel and members of the ensemble invite parents and their young children from 0-5 years old to join them in their practice of open improvisation. Children and parents get inspired on fun ways to cultivate focus on the joy of movement.

This is a public event. (Observers welcomed).

3:00 to 3:50 pm DISCUSSION: Law of Proximity - Artists and youth engaged in MACHiNENOiSY / Queer Arts Festival project the Law of Proximity, in which youth created a contemporary dance show with the help of internationally respected dance artists Delia Brett and Daelik, are joined by QAF Artistic Director Shaira Holman.  One month after their last performance, they reflect on their experiences. This is an opportunity to learn about the impact of community engaged dance through personal experiences.

This is a public event.

 

5:00to 5:50pm WORKSHOP: Critical Response -  Dance Presenters are invited to join DanceHouse Comunity Engagement Director Barb Clausen for a Critical Repsonse Workshop in the Board Room.  Food provided. RSVP to registration@madeinbc.org Note: You must attend the 4pm Barbara Bourget Solo Chorepgraphy Project  to participate in this workshop. 

 

This workshop is for professional dance presenters.  Advance registration required: registration@madeinbc.org 

 

8:00 to 9:00pm NETWORKING: Absolutely NO Shop Talk speed-dating - Dance Artists and Presenters are invited to participate in an Absolutely NO Shop Talk speed-dating session in the Dance Centre Lounge (Judith Marcuse Studio, 7th floor).  This is a unique opportunity to get to know other people in the sector without the pressure of talking shop.

 

This networking event is for Professioanal Dance Artists, Presenters, and MiBC Community Engagement Facilitators.

Smithers residency TCP chapter 1

Oh how I love Smithers BC. Do you even know where Smithers is? Well some of you do for sure. Its north, half way up the province about 4 hours in from Prince Rupert, and it rocks! Tara Cheyenne Performance recently spent 3 weeks in residence there and I would have blogged during the process but I have 10 month old baby and washing my hair won over opening my computer...which I actually didn't bring as an experiment in staying tuned into the moment and the landscape-I recommend it.
We arrived on May 25th after a lovely flight over serious mountains and endless rivers (don't you f**king mess with that you pipeline asswipes!!). Miriam Colvin, our lovely and talented host welcomed us ('us' is Marc Stewart my husband and composer, Jasper our baby and me). Miriam and I had been working on making this residency happen (she did most of the work and I crossed my fingers) since we performed bANGER in Smithers in 2009. For various reasons Tara Cheyenne Performance and Smithers are a really good fit. We got settled in a great house rented for our stay. Hotels are ok for a few days but having a whole house, especially with a baby made for a really comfortable stay.
We spent the next couple days going over scheduling with Miriam, meeting some of the wonderful artists and art enthusiasts in Smithers-there are many and they are so interesting! We also hit the Saturday morning farmers market which I'm still pining for-fresh everything and great people to talk to and just watch (those who know me know I love to watch people. Forgive me if I stare but you are facinating...all of you).
Ok then on the Monday my Mom arrived to look after Jasper while we got into show mode for Goggles. Only the poor thing arrived with a nasty cold so we put her to bed with buckets of emergence-C drink and went off to rehearse with baby in backpack. We managed to warm-up and run the piece (Marc running sound and me dancing). Jasper even laughed at a few bits and climbed on me whenever I did a part lying on the floor. The kid is 'show folk' for sure.
There was a welcome lunch for community member to come and meet us and ask questions which was fabulous. Having a chance to connect with people, talk about the show a workshop before hand made everyone feel more involved and opened up discussion. I think this is a good idea in general. People feel more comfortable engaging when they know you, and more likely to ask in depth questions. Nice one Miriam.
Ok I'll continue this another day. I'm typing in the dark at the end of the bed while Jasper sleeps and he's doing such a good job that I think I should try it out myself.

The week flies by!

How is it possible that it is FRIDAY? The residency is flying by...quickly quickly. So many adventures. Goggles was a huge hit. One audience member said, " It was entertaining and a feast for the senses that encompassed dance, movement, theatre, music and pop culture!"

Expressive Pandemonium: a workshop with over 36 people (big and small)!

Community members warming up for the day with Tara. Photo from one of our daily Morning Moves sessions.

Tara and Mark collaborating in the studio at one of our daily evening Community Workshops.

Community members worked and played hard to find their CHARACTERS.

TCP Outreach Begins

On Monday, we had a wonderful 'Meet & Greet' lunch with Tara, Marc and Jasper at Northwest Community College. Twelve community members followed their curiosity to come and talk with our artists in residence. A yummy lunch full of lots of questions about how the residency came to fruition, how Marc creates his sound compositions alongside the creation of dance and how Tara finds the characters within.

Joel Klein, Made in BC Program Manager, arrived in Smithers today! He jumped off Hawkair and directly into a meeting with members of the BV Community Arts Council and BV Concert Association. Don't worry, we fed him as we discussed arts, dance and the many cultures of northwest BC.

Goggles is tonight at the Della Herman. We are all excited!