Open Call for Dance Artists: Residency Opportunity

Cohort 4 (26/27) + Cohort 5 (27/28)

Presented by City of Toronto in partnership with TOES FOR DANCE, with support from ĀNANDAṀ and Lakeshore Arts

View Open Call as PDF

Apply Here!

link to INFO SESSION recording

Applications due on October 20, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EDT!

Running from and towards by Rakeem Hardy, P+P Cohort 1 (photo by Shannon Widdis).

Muhandis by Tanveer Alam, P+P Cohort 1 (photo by Shannon Widdis).

The Process+Practice Dance Residency takes place at Assembly Hall (Etobicoke) and is 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 a two-year program with rehearsal space offered in two consecutive summers, and a performance opportunity in the following autumn. A new cohort of two artists/projects begin each year. The opportunity includes in-kind rehearsal/performance space provided by the City of Toronto, as well as artist fees for public activities (see below) provided by TFD with support from Lakeshore Arts. Additional discounted rehearsal space may be provided to residency artists by ĀNANDAM.

Current and past residency artists include: Rakeem Hardy (Western Contemporary) and Tanveer Alam (Kathak), Boys’ Club Tap Dance Collective (Tap), Kiera Breaugh (Hip Hop/Western Contemporary), Atri Nundy (Bharatanatyam) and KINAJ (Hip Hop/Popping/House/Contemporary).

Starting this year, Open Calls for Process+Practice will take place every two years. This call seeks applications for Cohort #4 (26/27) and Cohort #5 (27/28). The next Open Call will take place in 2027.

Please click here to view 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 (25-30 mins). Two artists/projects will be a part of each cohort and will receive:

2 weeks (40 hours) of residency time in the first summer (August)
Discounted rehearsal studio access at ĀNANDAṀ’s Collective Space
1 week (20 hours) of residency time in the second summer (August)
1 week Production Period in the second autumn (November), 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 dependent 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.
Support marketing through a photoshoot, social media, press interviews, and providing materials.
Present work-in-progress ideas and unfinished excerpts related to their creative process through an Open Rehearsal event, followed by a facilitated discussion (Year 1, August).
Share/teach elements of their artistic practice for members of the general public and artistic community through a Community Workshop (Year 2, August or November).
Engage with the Etobicoke-Lakeshore community through occasional Outreach Events including brief performances at local events/public spaces, and interactive workshops.
Seek additional resources as required to complete their new work with a duration of 25-30 minutes, in advance of the Production Period / Double Bill Performance(s) (Year 2, November).

Financial Compensation

With the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage and Lakeshore Arts, 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, outreach events, 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 create a pairing of two artists/projects for each cohort 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 IBPOC, disabled/mad, and a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ 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 26-27 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, representatives from partner organizations, and 2-3 other guests 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.

Priya Doobay and Sukriti Sharma in choreography by Tanveer Alam, P+P Cohort 1. Photo by Aidan Tooth.

Artist Talk with Boys’ Club Tap Dance Collective and Kiera Breaugh, P+P Cohort 2. Photo by Shannon Widdis.

Rakeem Hardy leads a workshop for students at Assembly Hall, P+P Cohort 1. Photo by Shannon Widdis.

Application

Submit an Application Here: https://forms.gle/jyt6Q6CAEKy4WPE8A

The application, which can be viewed here, 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, August 23, 2025 from 3-4:30p.m. at Assembly Hall

TFD Co-Directors David Norsworthy and Chantelle Good 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. CLICK HERE for the Info Session recording!

Please consider joining us earlier on the same day to experience an all-levels Community Workshop with Boys' Club Tap Dance Collective (11:30am-12:30pm) and/or the Open Rehearsal featuring works-in-progress by Atri Nundy and KINAJ (1:00-2:30pm)! Both events are free!