Residency FAQ | Deborah Slater Dance Theater

Please read this FAQ before beginning your application. If you have any questions please contact Residency Coordinator at residency@deborahslater.org.

The Studio 210 Residency is open to artists in all performing arts disciplines (e.g., dance, theatre, 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, please contact the Residency Coordinator at residency@deborahslater.org.
Applicants must be in the Bay Area and available to work on their projects the majority of the Residency (January - March 5, 2024). Please note that we cannot provide housing.
Applicants must be available to participate in the final performances (March 1st + 2nd), and must be available for a tech rehearsal on Thursday Feb 29, 2024.

Each Resident receives: six hours of free rehearsal space at Studio 210 (3435 Cesar Chavez #210, San Francisco, CA) for eight weeks (COVID conditions permitting); weekly mentoring meetings with Deborah Slater, Artistic Director of Deborah Slater Dance Theater (DSDT); an artist stipend of $1,000 provided by DSDT; two hybrid performances (in-person + livestreamed); and high quality photos + video of their final presentation.

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 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 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 at the top of January 2024 and may begin using Studio 210 on or after January 3, 2024. 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 late November. 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 Manager with images and/or video clips for use on social media, the DSDT website, and the DSDT newsletter. Residents will participate in a livestreamed discussion 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. DSDT is planning to hold the Winter 2024 Residency shows both in person at Studio 210 and virtually with a livestream.

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.

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