Artist Programs
Velocity is an artist-led organization providing a responsive framework to support, fuel and sustain dance artists in their ongoing development as professionals. We provide generous residency, performance and artist development opportunities; and collaborative creative production. Our core programs include Velocity’s Residency Programs, a ladder of new work incubator programs and process-driven residencies; Education Programs, which provide training and classes for beginning through professional dancers, including the Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation; and Velocity Presents, a full season of performances, discussions, and community collaborations.
RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
Velocity has four residency programs for artists from emerging through established. All residencies provide artists with resources, mentorship, and collaborative support to experimental dance + performance artists. While the components and goals of each residency will differ depending on the program and the artists’ needs, Velocity remains committed to providing Seattle-based dance artists with flexible and responsive residency opportunities to be in process, and in community, as they create and share new works.
Curating Artist in Residence
Curating Artist in Residence (CAiR) is a residency program that supports movement artists and choreographers interested in curation, arts administration, and program development. One artist is selected each year for this 15-month residency. The selected artist will receive mentorship while supporting in the curation and coordination of the residency program the Bridge Project, the performance program Next Fest NW, and aspects of Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation. They also develop their own program with the mentorship and support of Velocity staff. The intention of this program is to ensure that there is working artist leadership at Velocity, while supporting the professional development of artists as curators and arts administrators.
HOW IS THIS PROGRAM CURATED? Through open application, selected by outgoing CAiR + Executive Director. Applications open in February.
2022-23 CAiR: Alyza DelPan-Monley
Bridge Project
The Bridge Project, is a 4-week residency and performance program for movement-based artists new to making work, or who have been making work in the greater Seattle area for three years or less. This program offers three choreographers up to 40 hours of rehearsal space each to create a new short work with a cast of up to three local auditioned dancers. Velocity provides each choreographer with a choreography stipend, performer stipends, costume stipend, and the creative, financial and administrative support of a fully-produced weekend of performances at Base.
HOW IS THIS PROGRAM CURATED? Through open application, selected by panel including the CAiR + artist panel. Applications open in Fall.
2022 Bridge Artists: Elise Beers (Aachix̂ Qağaduug), Artie Thomas (Stasia Coup), Ashley Menestrina
2020 Bridge Artists: Alyssa Boone, Lucille Jun, Peter Kohring
2019 Bridge Artists: LanDforms, Vladimir Kremenović, Beth Terwilliger
2018 Bridge Artists: Moonyeka, Allison Burke, Timothy Johnson, Hope Goldman, Leslie Kraus, Majinn, Jordan MacIntosh-Hougham
Creative Residency
Velocity’s Creative Residency program supports Seattle based movement artists and choreographers at any stage in their career as they develop work and engage in research. Artists receive resources alongside mentorship and support with project related activities from Velocity staff. Residency outcomes may include performances, artist talks and research sharings. The intention of this residency support is to nurture the creative process and provide financial support for space access for the selected artists.
HOW IS THIS PROGRAM CURATED? Through open application, selected by panel. Cycles are announced as funding or other resources are secured.
Made in Seattle
Velocity’s Made in Seattle program provides support to artists over a period of a year or more, and focuses on the critical development phase of a new work. The Made in Seattle program is dedicated to growing the Northwest’s creative community by commissioning, producing and presenting evening-length works by some of the most talented and experimental artists from our region.
Through nuanced and responsive assistance, over a multi-year period, the incubator enables artists to push boundaries, and develop their best work at a scale and visibility level that can catapult them into the next career phase, and onto the national stage.
The Made in Seattle creative incubator brings resources to every stage of creation — from conception through presentation and beyond — making it one of the most robust artist opportunities in Seattle, if not nationally.
HOW IS THIS PROGRAM CURATED? Selected artists are curated by the CAiR in conversation with Velocity staff. If you would like to be considered for Made in Seattle, please contact the current CAiR to express interest.
QUESTIONS?
If you would like to learn more about our residency programs, and how to apply or express interest, please reach out to our current Curating Artist in Residence.