Residency FAQ | Deborah Slater Dance Theater

Please read this FAQ before beginning your application.

The Studio 210 Residency is open to artists in all performing arts disciplines (e.g., dance, theater, music, etc.). Performing groups may apply but will need to identify a primary contact in the application and should detail 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, please contact Residency Coordinator Jessica Judd at residency@deborahslater.org.
Applicants must be in the Bay Area and available to work on their projects the majority of the Residency (January 5th - March 5th, 2022). Please note that we cannot provide housing.
Applicants must be available to participate in the final performances (March 4th-5th 2022), and must be available for a tech rehearsal the week of the show (date TBD based on Residents’ availability).

Applications for the Winter 2022 Residency open on August 16th, 2021 and are due by 11:59pm October 1st, 2021. We encourage applicants to start the application process early and to take time preparing the application and supporting documentation. Please do not wait until the day the application is due to begin gathering your application information. We will notify applicants by the week of November 1st, 2021.

We strongly encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with Deborah Slater, Studio 210, 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 selection panelists with a good understanding of the applicant as an artist;
A project description of the proposed project that includes topics to be explored, a description of the involvement of all collaborators (where applicable), and a general plan for the final presentation;
An explanation of why the applicant wants to be mentored by Deborah Slater 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 three high resolution photos;
Up to five minutes of video footage;
A writing sample (if applicable); and
Availability during the Residency.

Many of the questions have character count limits. We strongly recommend that you write these answers in Word or Google Docs before submitting them in the application so that you can utilize the character count feature, as well as check spelling and grammar.

Residents need to be ready to begin work on January 5th, 2022 and may begin using Studio 210 on that date. Residents will schedule their six free rehearsal hours per week in consultation with the Residency Coordinator and Studio Manager and may start the scheduling process in mid to late December. Residents will meet weekly with mentor Deborah Slater either by phone, video call, or in person. Slater will attend Residents’ rehearsals as desired by the Residents. Residents will need to periodically provide the DSDT Communications Associate with images and/or video clips for use on social media, the DSDT website, and the DSDT newsletter. Residents will participate in a Facebook Live chat with Deborah Slater about their work midway through the Residency (date TBD based on Residents’ availability). 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.

Each Resident has approximately 20 minutes for their final presentation in the Residency shows. This presentation can be a work in progress showing, a performance of complete work, a showing of fragments of work, a discussion of their work and process, etc. 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. While DSDT is planning to hold the Winter 2022 Residency shows in person at Studio 210, this may change due to COVID-19 conditions. We anticipate making a final decision about the performance format before the Residency begins in January. Should we need to hold the performances virtually, Residents may pre-record their performance, make a film, or live stream a performance. We recommend that applicants have a plan for both live and virtual performance.

Strong applications have:

A well articulated project concept that is engaging and thoughtful;
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 communicates who the applicant is as an artist;
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.

View FAQ as a document here.