Residency FAQ

• The Studio 210 Residency is open to artists in all performing arts disciplines (e.g., dance, theater, music, etc.). 
• Groups/ensembles may apply but will need to identify a primary contact in the application and will need to clearly describe who will be involved and in what capacity in their project description. 
• Applicants must have three years of professional experience in their field. This does not include work done in college. If you do not have three years of professional experience and are interested in applying, contact Managing Director Jessica Judd at residency@deborahslater.org. 
• Applicants must be in the Bay Area and available to work on their projects for the majority of the Residency January 4th - February 27th, 2027. We cannot provide housing for residents or collaborators.
• Applicants MUST be available to participate in the final performances Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27th 2026, and must be available for a tech rehearsal the week of the show (date TBD).

Each Resident is awarded a packagevalued over $9,000, which includes: 

• Six hours a week of free rehearsal space a week for eight weeks at Studio 210 (3435 Cesar Chavez #210, San Francisco, CA)
• Weekly mentoring meetings with Residency Mentor Deborah Slater
• An artist stipend of $1,000 provided by Deborah Slater Dance Theater
• Marketing collateral and support
• Two fully produced performances (both in-person and one with a livestream as well) with professional lighting design
• High quality, professionally edited two-camera recording and photos of the final performance

We strongly encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with Deborah Slater Dance Theater, Studio 210, Mentor Deborah Slater and the Studio 210 Residency before applying.

All applicants are required to submit the following in the online application: 

• An artist statement that provides the residency selection panelists with a good understanding of who the applicant is as an artist, including what artistic disciplines in which they work, what motivates/inspires their work, and areas of interest/inquiry; 
• A project description of the proposed project that includes topics to be explored, a description of the involvement of all collaborators (where applicable) and the roles of all collaborators, and a general plan for the final presentation; 
• An explanation of why the applicant wants to be mentored and how the residency would be beneficial to the applicant at this time; 
• A brief description of the resident’s plan for community outreach; 
• A CV for the applicant and short bios for all collaborators;
• Up to five minutes of video footage; 
• A writing sample (if applicable); and
• Availability during the Residency.

Many of the questions in the application have character count limits. We strongly recommend that you write these answers in Word or Google Docs before starting the application so that you can utilize the character count and spell check features as you will not be able to save your responses in the application form.

Residents will:

• Be ready to begin work on January 4th, 2027 and may begin using Studio 210 on that date. Residents will schedule their six free rehearsal hours per week in consultation with the Studio Manager and may start the scheduling process in late November 2026. 
• Meet weekly with Mentor Deborah Slater either by phone, video call, or in person. Slater will attend Residents’ rehearsals as mutually agreed upon between the Residents and Slater 
• Periodically, and at least three times during the Residency, provide the DSDT Communications Manager with images and/or video clips for use on social media, the DSDT website, and the DSDT newsletter. 
• Participate in a livestreamed discussion with Deborah Slater and about their work midway through the Residency (date TBD based on Residents’ availability). 
• Promote the Residency show to their networks. Residents are responsible for bringing in half the audience to the Residency shows and DSDT asks that all applicants have a plan to engage their communities throughout the process.
  
• Provide one front-of-house volunteer for each night of the performances.

Each Resident has approximately 20 minutes for their final presentation in the Residency shows. Example formats of the final presentation include but are not limited to: 

• A work in progress showing;
• Performance of complete work; 
• Showing of fragments of work; 
• Discussion of Resident’s work and process .

It is up to each Resident, in consultation with Deborah Slater to decide on what will be presented in the shows. Presentation of work is followed by audience discussion each night of the shows. DSDT will hold the Winter 2027 Residency shows in person at Studio 210 and with a livestream one night. 

Strong applications have:

• A well articulated project concept that is engaging, thoughtful, and well-defined;  
• A project description that is detailed, concise, and readily understood by those who are unfamiliar with the applicant and their work. Vague or unclear project descriptions will not be competitive;
• A proposed project that is appropriate in scope for an eight week residency. Proposed projects that are too large or broad in scope for the time restraints or format of this Residency will not be competitive; 
• A clear description of the involvement of any and all collaborators; 
• An artist statement that clearly communicates who the applicant is as artist, including in which artistic disciplines they work, areas of interest/inquiry, and motivations/influences;
• A compelling description of why Deborah Slater's mentorship would be of value to the applicant and why the applicant wants to participate in this particular Residency at this time; 
• A clear plan for engaging the applicant’s community throughout the process; 
• Information demonstrating that the applicant has the experience to execute their proposed project; 
• Image, video, and writing (if applicable) samples that are interesting and support the application. The applicant should be clear in the application about why the samples were chosen.

Residents are selected by our Residency Selection Panels which consist of 3-5 panelists including Deborah Slater, the Managing Director Jessica Judd experienced local performing artists, former Residents, and/or local arts administrators and cultural workers. All panels include BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists. Panelists rotate each cycle.

Applications will be evaluated by a panel using the following criteria:

• Is the concept engaging, thoughtful, and well-defined?
• Does the applicant have a clear plan to execute the proposed project?
• Will Deborah Slater's mentorship be of value to the applicant?
• Would the residency have a positive impact on the applicant's career?
• Does this project fit well with the context of the residency in relation to mentorship, space, and experimenting with something new?
• Does the scope of the proposed project seem feasible given the time constraints and format of the Residency?
• Has the applicant demonstrated they have the experience to execute their proposed project?
• Does the applicant have experience producing their work and a plan for community outreach/engagement?
• Are the images and video compelling and do they support the application?
• Did the applicant complete the application as directed?