Choreographer Commission Call Out: Supporting Acts 2025
Application Deadline: 12pm, 16th December 2024
Taking inspiration from the music industry’s support acts, Richard Chappell Dance (RCD) will commission two early career choreographers to create a work for performance alongside Richard Chappell Dance repertoire in 2025 through an open call. After a successful pilot in 2022, Supporting Acts reimagines how companies can create a symbiotic and generous partnership with early career artists and communities. The programme has been shaped to empower dance makers to continue their learning in artistic values, strategic development, climate justice, fundraising, technical theatre, dramaturgy and financial monitoring. Supporting Acts will upscale each artist’s practices to think boldly about the development of their artistic voices in accessible and sustainable ways.
RCD is seeking applications from dance artists based in or from the South West of England. One commission is focused on outdoor practice for premiere at Sterts Arts Centre (Cornwall) on 21st April 2025 and the other is focused on mid scale theatre, for premiere at The House (Plymouth) on 8th October 2025. One selected artist will respond to work from the Jerwood Collection through their commission, in any way which artistically resonates with them. Jerwood Collection holds a significant number of paintings, works on paper, sculpture and prints by artists such as Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Barbara Hepworth, John Piper, Stanley Spencer RA, Barbara Walker and Rose Wylie RA.
Supporting Acts will uplift artists through a wide ranging package of support and RCD is looking to collaborate with makers who have long term ambitions for the development of their choreographic practices and voices. The programme has been funded by Jerwood Foundation, The Linbury Trust, The Fenton Arts Trust and Teignbridge Council.
Who are we currently recruiting for?
Two early career choreographers/ dance artists based in, or from the South West of England. This includes the regions of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight. For our outdoor practice commission, we are looking to work with an artist with experience of dance in outdoor spaces. This experience could be in broader outdoor dance practice (choreography, training or improvisation) or in choreography or performance. For our mid scale commission, we are looking to work with an artist with a track record of creating at least one work for theatre touring who is ready to create for a larger venue context. Applicants will have the option to select whether they are interested in responding to work from the Jerwood Collection with their work within the application form.
How will the commission work?
The Choreographer will receive a commission fee, in kind mentoring, residency support and programming. Richard Chappell Dance will support each choreographer to shape their programme, whilst planning 2-4 participatory workshop days for the choreographer to deliver. Due to the resources available to RCD for each commission, we are looking to support a choreographer/dance artist who is creating a solo work they will perform, or a solo created on a different dancer, or a duet which features the choreographer as a performer. This is to ensure our commission pays for the work at cost. Should an applicant wish to create a work with larger numbers of collaborators, their application should feature information about how the essential match funding will be secured. Please note each work will sit in a mixed bill and will need to last 15-20 minutes.
Commission Fee Breakdown
Each Commissioned choreographer will be paid a fee of £3,225, which is inclusive of holiday pay on Equity’s Right to Rest rates. This fee is inclusive of creation. outreach and premiere date costs. Additional funds will be allocated to the choreographer should their work be programmed in additional RCD performances after their premiere date.
When will the creation of residencies and performances take place?
We have a range of different residency partners who are able to support the programme from April-September 2025. Locations will be determined by the home destination of the supported artist and their availability. We will endeavour to ensure residency support offered are on dates and in locations which are accessible and convenient for the commissioned artist.
What support will the Choreographer receive?
The Choreographer will receive mentoring from Richard Chappell and other Richard Chappell Dance staff in partnership development, climate justice, fundraising, technical theatre, dramaturgy and financial monitoring. Mentoring will be provided by Artistic Director Richard Chappell, Producer Clare Parker, Climate Justice Facilitator Marla King, Production Manager Charlie Knight, Dramaturg Neus Gil Cortes and Communications Consultant Robert James. The support has been designed to be offered throughout the project, and legacy support will be shaped from the choreographer’s reflections and needs after the performance date.
Conduct
RCD strives to create safe and restorative environments for our artists, participants and audiences. To support these efforts, we have developed a Code of Conduct which is a mutual agreement between everyone we work with to ensure access, respect, safety and generosity to all. You can find a copy of our Code of Conduct HERE. Within the application process you will be required to confirm your willingness to engage with our working practices.
How do I apply?
Please complete our application Google Form to apply for Supporting Acts. Should you wish to receive a word document version of the from, please email richard@richardchappelldance.co.uk. We would like to hear about your choreographic practice and your appetite to grow and shape it, alongside information about the work you are proposing. We would also like to see examples of your past choreography, or work in progress if you are applying to develop a creation already in development.
We are passionate about our programmes for artists creating more equity across the dance sector and are conscious of the challenges artists face when applying for work to facilitate their practices. This application process has been designed to not be too time consuming for applicants and your writing within the form could range from a few clear and direct sentences, to a longer explanation. We know that word limits can sometimes limit an artist’s honesty when describing their work and force more time to be spent on an application than necessary. We want to hear transparently about your work and needs and the length of answer to each question will not determine the strength of the application.
Please contact us if you want this information in other formats. If you would prefer to create a video application, please send us a video no more than 5 minutes long, containing the information requested in the form.
Interview
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a brief interview (30 minutes) on the 18th December 2024. No preparation will be needed for this interview and we will endeavour to allocate a time during working hours that is convenient for you. In the application form, you will be able to let us know if you are unavailable on this date, alongside preferred timings for an interview.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: 12pm, 16th December 2024
Shortlist Interview Day: 18th December 2024
Outcome Notification: 20th December 2024
Outdoor Commission Premiere, Sterts Arts Centre: 21st April 2025
Mid Scale Commission Premiere, The House: 8th October 2025
Who do I contact if I have any questions about the project or my application?
If you have any questions around the Supporting Acts project or your application, please contact clare@richardchappelldance.co.uk.
We are a company that celebrates difference and diversity of identity, thought and lived experience within all our work. Richard Chappell Dance believes in shaping restorative, empowering and inspiring experiences for artists, which increase the sustainability of careers and practices. We place a strong focus on access and being a part of positive change within the dance sector. We welcome applications from people of colour, artists living with disability or neuro-divergence, alongside artists of any ages those who have experienced past or recent economic disadvantage.
