CHOREOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS

CHOREOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS

EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS

EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS

The Emerging Choreographer Program provides early to mid-career creators with a 27-hour residency during Springboard’s 3-week summer project. During this residency, they generate a new work on Springboard dancers, which is presented through a works-in-process showing alongside the repertory and creations of our Principal Companies. We also provide 35 hours of additional studio space for independent creative research.

Springboard’s hopes to highlight the many perspectives that comprise our ecosystem. In its selection of dance makers, Springboard does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, color, national origin, socioeconomic background, age or any other protected characteristic. We encourage all voices to apply.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Our selection panel is composed of five highly respected artists from diverse experiences who identify widely across gender, race, and sexual orientation. Each panelist looks at every application before convening to discuss and assess the work of each choreographer. The evaluation process focuses on the quality and presentation of the artists’ work and their choreographic history.

Applicants are not limited to a specific geographic location; international artists are responsible for their visa expenses and procurement. All artists are responsible for travel, living, and housing expenses and arrangements.

WHAT MAKES A CHOREOGRAPHER A GOOD FIT FOR SPRINGBOARD?

The panel looks carefully at the artist’s resume, artistic statement, written or verbal proposal, and the supporting video materials. Strong importance is placed on the clear and compelling articulation of one’s ideas, in both the choreographic and written or verbal form. The panel considers the artist’s experience working with large groups, the suitability of the proposed work for Springboard Danse’s performance venue, and the compatibility of the work with our dancers’ interests and the overall curation of Springboard Danse| Pittsburgh.

PROGRAM PERKS

  • $1,000 flat fee

  • 17 dancers in your cast (selected through an audition process)

  • 27 hours of rehearsal with your cast

  • 35+ hours of studio residency time for individual research

  • Rehearse and generate work in state-of-the-art studios

  • Present previously created work (10 minutes) at a black box theater through the PLATFORM (showing)

  • Present work in process (6-minute proscenium work or 20-minute installation) at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and alongside world-renowned Principal Companies through our Final Showing

  • Meet and work with an incomparable network of choreographers, stagers, directors, and dancers

  • Work will be witnessed by our global Springboard network, as well as invited directors, agents, and producers

  • Be considered for future, paid commissions by Point Park University’s School of Dance

    • Point Park University’s School of Dance may engage a choreographer to return during the academic year to create a work for the undergraduate dancers. Selected choreographers will be paid a $4,000 - $6,000 commission fee. Travel, housing, and per diem will be provided.

  • Option to host an audition for upcoming projects

  • Option to take class each morning throughout the three weeks

  • Option to participate in the afternoon workshops throughout week one

  • Option to observe Principal Company rehearsals throughout weeks two and three

PREVIOUS EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS

RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER PROGRAM

RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER PROGRAM

The Resident Choreographer Program was developed in 2018, in partnership with Place des Arts and Agora de la Danse, to recognize and support mid-career dance makers.

Springboard provides exceptional artists with residencies, opportunities to network with producers and venues, and informal showings of their work at notable venues within the summer project's host city. Our inaugural Residents, former Emerging Choreographers Jasmine Ellis and Michael Getman, have been commissioned internationally and have employed Springboard dancers as their collaborators.

The Resident Choreographer Program was developed for mid-career dance makers whose work is captivating and boundless, positioning themselves at the forefront of the international choreographic scene. Springboard curates these exceptional artists who have been commissioned for national and international productions. Springboard provides creative residency support, including the awe-inspiring dancers selected to participate in the Springboard Danse, studio space for both independent research and collaborative rehearsal, and informal showings at public venues within the host city.

  • Photos (top to bottom)

    2019 SBDM_Resident Choreographer, Kate Hilliard_©Michael Slobodian

    2018 SBDM_Resident Choreographer, Jasmine Ellis_©David Gonsier

    2022 SBDM_Resident Choreographer, UNA_©Michael Slobodian

OUR 2025 RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS

photo by Sentientforms

  • Laja Field is an international dancer-theater creator, educator and performer known for her hyperphysical, non-linear storytelling through movement. Her work spans across the U.S, Canada, Central America and Europe with her most recent premiere on NYU | Tisch where she was also an adjunct professor. Laja has been a teaching artist for Springboard X since 2021. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Laja earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Utah and went on to join Johannes Wieland at the Staatstheater Kassel, Germany. After relocated to NYC in 2015 Laja brought her style of floorwork teaching at Peridance and Gibney. She was also a founding member, rehearsal director and co-creator with Vim Vigor and co-founded LajaMartin Physical Dance Theater with Martin Durov. Since then Laja has been commissioned in Calgary with Project InTandem, Montréal for Danse à la Carte’s Transformation, traveled to Spain for Deltebre Dansa and returns annually to the b12 festival in Berlin. As a performer, Laja collaborates with Jessie Lee Thorne, notably with “Topia” that won best dance film on indie short fest and is streaming on apple tv and amazon. Most recently Laja was in Switzerland performing for Victor Rottier | greywax dance company, in Paris teaching for Le Facteur and has been serving as a Performance Admissions Workshop Leader for the Place | London Contemporary Dance School. Laja continues traveling for projects across the globe; finding joy in connecting to communities to share her curiosity in how to weave physical ferocity and cinematic dreamscapes together. 

photo by slowdanger

  • taylor knight & anna thompson are co-founding artistic directors of slowdanger, a multidisciplinary performance organism based out of Pittsburgh, PA. slowdanger uses systematic approaches to movement, technology, sound, queer world building and ontological examination to produce performance work, utilizing process based practice to delve into circular life patterning including effort, transformation, and death. From directing music videos to scoring plays, they transform their shape to adapt to a variety of different containers. slowdanger has performed across the United States, Canada and Europe in venues ranging from proscenium theater and gallery to nightclub and dive bar. Their work has been shared at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, Dance Place, The Warhol Museum, Kelly Strayhorn Theater and more. They have been featured in/by Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2018) and were 2022 awardees of the NPN Creation Fund and NEFA/National Dance Project to create their work, SUPERCELL which premiered in fall 2023 and presented by Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Flea, and Velocity Dance Center. Recently, they were Texas A&M’s New Work Development Artists in Residence in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Art.

PREVIOUS RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS

  • Chuck Wilt / UNA Productions (New York, USA)

    Artistic Director Chuck Wilt

    Resident Choreographer 2022 | Emerging Choreographer 2017

  • These editions were cancelled due to COVID-19

    Chuck Wilt / UNA Productions (New York, USA)

    Resident Choreographer 2020 + 2021 | Emerging Choreographer 2017

    Kyra Jean Green / Trip the Light Fantastic (Montréal, CA)

    Resident Choreographer 2020 + 2021 | Emerging Choreographer 2009

  • La Tresse (Montréal, CA)

    Resident Choreographers 2019 | Emerging Choreographers 2017

    Kate Hilliard (Toronto, CA)

    Resident Choreographer 2019 | Emerging Choreographer 2007

  • Jasmine Ellis (Munich, Germany)

    Resident Choreographer 2018 | Emerging Choreographer 2017

    Michael Getman(Tel Aviv, Israël)

    Resident Choreographer 2018 | Emerging Choreographer 2017

SPRINGBOARD FELLOWSHIP

Our Fellowship program is designed to provide equitable support to choreographers.

On PAUSE for 2026

The Fellowship is currently on pause until we secure funding to support the year-long mentorship experience we aim to provide.

THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Amidst the 2020 cancellations, we devoted our season to identifying critical areas throughout our infrastructure and practices where we could do more to support our community. Leading with integrity, creativity, equity, diversity, inclusion, and mentorship, the Fellowship Program is just one of the many steps we have committed to taking to move contemporary dance forward.

Springboard’s Fellowship Program is designed to provide support, residency, mentoring, and networking resources within our global network of choreographers. The program supports the artists’ practices as part of the Springboard Emerging Choreographers Program and strives to uplift the Fellows' artistic endeavors throughout their Fellowship year and beyond.

HOW ARE THESE ARTISTS CURATED?

Springboard’s family reaches far and wide. We reach out to our extended web of choreographers, stagers, performers, curators, company directors, and mentors, in addition to esteemed individuals within the field, to understand whose trajectory may be most harmonious with and supported by our program offerings. We seek career choreographers with 5+ years of experience and striking creative capacity.

It is our utmost priority to invite an artist who can succeed within the framework of Springboard Danse and leverage the opportunity to launch their choreographic career. We consider it our responsibility to ensure that the curated individual is prepared to take advantage of each opportunity and thrive within each setting, during and beyond Springboard Danse.

IDEAL CANDIDATE 

  • 5+ years of choreographic experience

  • Experience working with large groups 

    • Summer Project cast of 17+ dancers

  • Experience working with professional and professional-track dancers

  • Ability to work and thrive in the fast-paced, pressurized, and dense environment that is Springboard Danse

  • Prepared to take on commissions and guest teaching engagements with a professional company, apprentice program, or university program

  • Photos (top to bottom):

    2019 SBDM_Principal Choreographer, Ohad Naharin_©Michael Slobodian

    2017 SBDM_Principal Choreographer, Aszure Barton_©Michael Slobodian

    2018 SBDM_Emerging and Resident Showing_©David Gonsier

  • Photos (top to bottom):

    2017 SBDM_Emerging Choreographer, Ryan Mason_©David Katzenstein

    2022 SBDM_Emerging Choreographer, James Vivieros_©Michael Slobodian

    2018 SBDM_Emerging Choreographer, slowdanger_©David Gonsier

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