2017-18 Resident Companies

Joy of Motion will select a group of companies to be in residence during the 2018-2019 season that reflects the depth and breadth of dance styles it serves in its education programs, including modern, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, social dance, Middle Eastern, and Afro-Diaspora dance styles. The goals of the Resident Company program are to support local companies’ efforts to employ professional dancers and choreographers, build dance audiences in Greater Washington, and to further the field of dance education.

Please download the RFP here.

Companies in residence at Joy of Motion benefit from its vast reach into the dance community, access to its space, support from its program leadership, collaborative marketing and communications, and association with one of the region’s most well-established and respected dance organizations. Throughout the season, Joy of Motion will support each Resident Company by:

• promoting the company in printed and web-based materials;
• presenting at least one evening of performance;
• offering free and discounted classes to Resident Company personnel;
• providing free and reduced-rate rehearsal space, subject to availability of Joy of Motion studios;
• offering Resident Company personnel opportunities to participate in Joy of Motion program activities, such as workshops, master classes, performances, etc.

In exchange for receiving the benefits listed above, Resident Companies will be required to:

• promote Joy of Motion in printed and web-based materials;
• produce one evening-length concert, to be presented by Joy of Motion;
• lead two two-hour workshops or master classes for the regional dance community;
• provide a schedule of rehearsal activities, at least three months in advance;

Organizations applying to become a Resident Company at Joy of Motion must meet ALL of the following criteria. The applicant:

• is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, incorporated in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia; or has a fiscal agent arrangement with a well-established nonprofit organization;
• has been in existence for at least three years prior to the time of application;
• demonstrated a history of producing and performing at least one evening-length concert per year;
• is committed to paying dance professionals for their work.

Each year, a selection committee will review all eligible proposals and will select no more than six companies to be in residence for the following season. Attempting to select a group of companies that reflects the depth and breadth of Joy of Motion’s dance education programming, a review committee, made up of Joy of Motion staff and external dance professionals, will review proposals based upon the following criteria. The successful applicant:

• has a demonstrated history of artistic excellence;
• is committed to furthering the field of dance by supporting the careers of professional dancers and choreographers;
• has a track record of administrative stability;
• demonstrates the ability to support and enhance the mission of Joy of Motion through its residency;
• submits a complete and high-quality proposal.

The application to become a Resident Company at Joy of Motion must include ALL of the following:

• Proposal Narrative (not to exceed four typed pages) including:
• Mission, vision, and values of the company;
• Brief organizational history and program summary, including educational or outreach initiatives;
• Company goals for the residency period;
• Statement regarding ways in which the company would benefit from residency at Joy of Motion;
• Financial Statement of Activity for the most recently completed fiscal year;
• Proposed budget for the 2018/19 residency year at Joy of Motion ;
• Résumés of key personnel;
• One video sample of dance work, not to exceed twelve minutes.

Interested parties may attend one of two information sessions, at which questions regarding the application and the Resident Company program will be answered.

Information sessions will take place at the Joy of Motion offices at 1638 R Street NW, Suite 300, Washington DC. Dates for these sessions will be announced this winter.

If you have any questions please contact production@joyofmotion.org