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 2025 and March 2026.

Presentations will take place at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance between April 8 – 18, 2026. These works will be spread across two programmes, each receiving four performances. Each project will receive a minimum of four hours of technical rehearsal and one dress rehearsal at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance between March 30 and April 15, 2026. Each project will be supported by a Lighting Designer, Technical Director and Stage Manager. The Lighting Designer will be selected through the Emerging Lighting Designer Initiative. 

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 approximately $2,160 as the Open Space bursary for the creation residency for a total of $4,160 + HST if applicable.

• Works must be 16 – 20 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, proscenium theatre setup
• 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 Citadel + Compagnie’s theatre 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

Work: Tell us about your artistic practice and what you are excited about right now. (max. 200 words) 

Project: Tell us about the work you’d like to present at Citadel Dance Exchange (max. 400 words)  

Phase of Development: What phase of development is the project at? What are your next steps? (max. 250 words)  

Impact: How will your work benefit from being presented for a public audience? (max. 150 words) 

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

Support Materials: 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: 
•    up to 1 page of written support material*  
* Your written support material should help us contextualize the video of your past work in connection to the new work you want to present at Citadel Dance Exchange. 

Number of performers. 

Anticipated Length (works must be under 20 minutes). 

Open Space Calendar – Please select all blocks in November, December, January and March when you are available to rehearse. The performance takes place in April, so blocks in May and June are ineligible.