Open Call for Dance Artists: Residency Opportunity

Presented by Assembly Hall in partnership with TOES FOR DANCE, with support from ĀNANDAṀ

We are no longer accepting applications for our 2025-26 residency cohort.

Above: Genevieve John, Sukriti Sharma, Priyanka Tope, Priya Doobay and Sindhu Nair in choreography by Tanveer Alam (photo by Aidan Tooth).

Above: Rakeem Hardy (photo by Aidan Tooth).

TOES FOR DANCE (TFD) and the City of Toronto are working together to pilot new dance programs at Assembly Hall, informed by a community consultation process. The Process+Practice Dance Residency is one of the pilot programs and a part of the Process+Practice (P+P) Dance Series. The residency supports local dance artists in the research, creation and presentation of new works, while offering compelling artistic experiences for community members to engage with the artform of dance. The program supports time/space for experimentation, discussion and celebration; nurturing artistic development and community-building. 

The structure of the residency is currently a two-year program for artists with rehearsal space offered in two consecutive summers, and a performance opportunity in the following autumn. A new cohort of 2 artists/projects begin each year. The opportunity includes in-kind rehearsal/performance space provided by the City of Toronto, as well as confirmed artist fees for public engagement activities (listed below) provided by TFD. Additional rehearsal space is provided to residency artists by ĀNANDAṀ at Collective Space.

The inaugural Cohort #1 artists in 2023-2024 are Rakeem Hardy (Western Contemporary) and Tanveer Alam (Kathak). Cohort #2 artists in 2024-2025 are Boys’ Club Tap Dance Collective (Tap) and Kiera Breaugh (Hip Hop/Western Contemporary). This call seeks applications for Cohort #3 in 2025-2026.

Please click here to download this Open Call as a PDF.

Pictured above: Assembly Hall, Performance Hall.

Opportunity

This residency primarily offers in-kind use of the Performance Hall at Assembly Hall for the purpose of artistic practice and creative process that contribute to the development of a new choreographic work (25-35 mins). Two artists/projects will be a part of the 25-26 cohort and will receive:

  • 2 weeks (40 hours) of residency time in the first summer (August 11 to 22, 2025)

  • Up to 50 free hours of rehearsal studio time at ĀNANDAṀ’s Collective Space (Jan-Oct 2026)

  • 1 week (20 hours) of residency time in the second summer (August 24 to 28, 2026)

  • 1 week Production Period in the second autumn (November 2 to 8, 2026), including studio rehearsals, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsal, and 1-4 public performance(s) of the work in the format of a Double Bill with the other residency artist, with presentation support including marketing, box-office, artist fees and limited production expenses covered by TOES FOR DANCE (scale of support is dependant on grant results).

Pictured above: Assembly Hall exterior

In reciprocity for the above, the selected artists will be expected to:

  • Contribute to artistic exchange discussions with other residency artists and check-in conversations with TFD and the City throughout the residency.

  • Present work-in-progress ideas and unfinished excerpts related to their creative process through an Open Rehearsal event, followed by a facilitated discussion (Aug 23, 2025).

  • Share/teach elements of their artistic practice for members of the general public and artistic community through a Community Workshop event (August or November 2026).

  • Seek additional resources as required to complete their new work with a duration of 25-35 minutes, in advance of the Production Period / Double Bill Performance(s) in the second autumn of their residency term.

Financial Compensation

With the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, TFD is able to provide guaranteed artist fees for the public engagement events only, in alignment with CADA’s Professional Standards for Dance (open rehearsal, workshop, 1-4 performances) as part of this residency.

At this time, there is no guaranteed funding in place to support creation expenses or artist fees for rehearsal/creative development. TFD will pursue additional grant funding to support additional expenses, however the responsibility for creation expenses/artist rehearsal fees remains with the artist. Selected artists will be encouraged to apply for grant funding to pay themselves, their collaborators, and any expenses associated with the rehearsal and creation time. TFD and the City will provide Letters of Support for the artists’ applications.

Priorities + Assessment Criteria 

We will be prioritizing applications from professional dance artists who are either based in Toronto, or have some other meaningful and ongoing connection to the area. Our aim is to curate a cohort of two artists/projects for 25-26 that reflects the communities within and around Toronto, and therefore, we will prioritize submissions from artists working in non-dominant dance forms/practices and equity-seeking artists, especially those who identify as BIPOC, disabled/mad, and a part of the LGBTQ2S+ community. 

    • How will the proposed project contribute to the artists’ development?

    • Is the artist well-positioned to leverage this opportunity for their own growth?

    • To what extent is a commitment to artistic research, process, and practice demonstrated?

    • How does the project align with community needs/interests as expressed through our ongoing community consultation process?

    • How would the project, including its artistic team, contribute to a diverse representation of Toronto’s communities within P+P programs, considering the 25-26 Cohort and long-term?

    • How does the project support our priority of equity?

    • Does the artist demonstrate previous experience offering workshops/engaging communities?

    • To what extent does the applicant demonstrate:

      • dedication to their creative practice,

      • skill and depth of thinking in relation to their work,

      • curiosity and willingness to take artistic risks, and

      • a commitment to exploring subject matter that is relevant and timely to them?

    • Does the applicant have the skills/experience needed to produce their project independently, and obtain the resources necessary to cover creative expenses and pay collaborators equitably?

Selection

The committee includes TFD staff, a representative from ĀNANDAṀ, and 1 other guest TBC who will assess the applications and develop a short list based on the above criteria. Final decisions will be made by TFD Co-Directors David Norsworthy and Chantelle Good in collaboration with City of Toronto/Assembly Hall staff, with consideration for how the artists/projects may complement each other for the Double Bill production.

Above: Priya Doobay and Sukriti Sharma in choreography by Tanveer Alam (photo by Aidan Tooth).

Above: Tanveer Alam, David Norsworthy and Rakeem Hardy (photo by Aidan Tooth).

Above: Genevieve John, Sukriti Sharma, Priyanka Tope, Priya Doobay and Sindhu Nair in choreography by Tanveer Alam (photo by Aidan Tooth).

Application

We are no longer accepting applications for our 2025-25 Cohort. The extended deadline was August 6, 2024.

The application includes a CV/resume or bio, several questions, and support material (video links). Responses to questions will be accepted via written response or verbal response (uploaded voice note/recording). Please respect the word limits and recording durations.

Note: The application form uses Google and requires sign-in to a Google account. If this creates a barrier for you, a PDF preview of the application can be viewed here. Please reach out to us at info@toesfordance.ca so we can arrange an alternative submission method for you if needed!

ONLINE INFO SESSIOn/Q&A

Saturday, July 6, 2024 from 10-11:30 a.m. (Online)

TFD Co-Director David Norsworthy will host the session: first offering an overview of this call, application questions, and selection priorities, before answering questions in collaboration with TFD and Assembly Hall staff.

Watch the recording by clicking here!

Important timecodes:

0:00 - 16:16 - Introductions and Land Acknowledgement

18:10 - 22:00 - History of Process+Practice

22:00 - 25:35 - Community Consultation Program

27:33 - 36:55 - Open Call Details

36:57 - 43:29 - Priorities and Assessment Criteria

43:40 - 50:16 - Assembly Hall Information

50:30 - 56:42 - Rakeem Hardy on P+P Residency Experience

56:46 - 1:00:05 - Assembly Hall Photos

1:00:06 - 1:13:44 - Questions and Wrap-up

Important Dates

Info Session/Q&A Saturday, July 6, 2024 from 10-11:30 a.m. (Online)

Application Deadline Friday, August 2, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT

The deadline has been extended until Tuesday, August 6th at 11:59pm EDT.

Notification of Selection September 2024


Questions / Support

Questions? Please email info@toesfordance.ca or use this link to either RSVP for our online Information Session / Q&A on Saturday, July 6 from 10:00am - 11:30am or request a link to the recording.