Citadel Dance Exchange

Applications are open to all professional dance artists residing within the Greater Toronto Area. Not open to full-time students.

The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance and The Walter Carsen Centre for The National ballet of Canada are accessible spaces. We welcome applications from all artists, inclusive of all forms of dance and their expressions, and are committed to creating safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+, women, Indigenous and Black persons, persons of colour and persons with disabilities.

Citadel Dance Exchange will offer a creation residency of approximately 96 hours of studio time at The Walter Carsen Centre through The National Ballet of Canada’s Open Space programme . This time can be divided into 12 full days (eight hours), 24 half days (four hours) or a combination. Creation residencies will be scheduled in November and December 2024 and March 2025.

Presentations will take place at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance between April 2 – 12 2025. These works will be spread across two programmes, each receiving four performances. Each project will receive four hours of technical rehearsal and one dress rehearsal at The Citadel between March 26 and April 9 2025. Each project will be supported by a Lighting Designer, Technical Director and Stage Manager.

Marketing and promotion will be managed jointly by Citadel + Compagnie and The National Ballet of Canada.

Successful applicants will receive a $2,000 presentation fee and $2,160 as the Open Space bursary for the creation residency for a total of $4,160 + HST if applicable.

• Works must be 12 to 15 minutes in length
• There is a maximum of six performers in each work due to the amount of dressing room space we can offer
• All performers must be at least 18 years of age
• Proposed works must use original music or music for which the artist received permission from the owner for its use
• Works must fit within a 30 x 28 ft space, black marley floors
• Works must require minimal technical support, all props and scenery must be approved by the venue and the presenter has the right to disallow the use of any technical/artistic element that conflicts with The Citadel theatre’s conditions
• Artists are responsible for hiring and managing all performers in their work
• Artists must provide their own costumes

• Only non-marking footwear is permitted. Due to the sprung floor and vinyl surface, any footwear that creates high impact in a small area (i.e. stiletto heels) is not permitted as it could permanently damage the floor
• Sound equipment and pianos are available for rehearsal purposes
• No A/V or large equipment or set pieces permitted in the studios
• No overnight storage permitted

Tell us about your artistic practice and what you are excited about right now. (max. 300 words)
This can include training, influences, past projects you are proud of, how you like to create and what you aspire to bring into the world through dance.

Tell us about the work you want to present at Citadel Dance Exchange (max. 400 words)
What are you interested in exploring with the work?
This can include details about what you’re exploring with the work, whether you are planning on working with other collaborators (dancers, or otherwise) and what makes this work a new artistic exploration for you.

What phase of development is the project at? What are your next steps? (max. 250 words)
This can include information about what you’ve discovered so far in your process, and what you’re planning on working on during your residency time to move this work toward presentation.

At this phase, are there any specific technical needs you imagine might become important to the presentation of this work? (max. 100 words)

How will your work benefit from being presented for a public audience?
This can include details about your intended outcome, specific goals for your presentation, and/or what you’re hoping to learn from the presentation experience. (max. 200 words)

Video support material is preferred but please include one of the following:

• Up to 10 mins of video of work you have done on this project
  OR
• 5 minutes of video from a previous project AND
• One page of written support material contextualizing the video of your past work in connection to the new work you want to present

Approximate number of performers.

Approximate length.

Please select all blocks in November, December and March when you are available to rehearse. If you would like to be considered for Open Space, in the case that your application is not invited to Citadel Dance Exchange, please select all blocks you are available in addition to the November, December and March dates.

View Schedule

If your project is not selected for Citadel Dance Exchange, would you like it to be considered for Open Space? If there is a different project you would like to be considered for Open Space, please fill out a separate Open Space application. Yes or No (Selection)