East Midlands Dance Artist Network (EMDAN) are looking for 4 dance artists/ choreographers currently developing new choreographic work to be a part of their Mentoring Programme and Scratch Night 2026/2027. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for 4 dance artists/ choreographers living and/or working in the East Midlands to receive holistic support from 4 highly experienced mentors for development of their creative work and process, culminating in sharings of work in safe, supportive environments, with constructive audience feedback. They will be prioritising one space for a disabled artist and one space for an early career artist.

This year we will also consider applications from artists outside of the East Midlands with strong links to the region, including Alumni from regional Universities.

Successful mentees will receive

• £500 bursary 
• 2 days studio space at Fabric, Nottingham with Choreographic mentoring support during rehearsal 
• 1 ½ days shared studio space at Fabric, Nottingham with other mentees 
• Informal sharing of work and in studio experience at Fabric, Nottingham with mentors/mentees 
• Rehearsal, Tech and Sharing of work in progress at EMDAN Scratch Night at Lakeside Arts, Nottingham with invited audience 
• 2 x Group Health and Well Being Sessions with Well Being Mentor 
• 2 x Group Career Sustainability Sessions with Career Sustainability Mentor 
• Online Introductory Session with Choreographic Mentor 
• Group Evaluation session

Criteria for Applicants

• Must be living and/or working in the East Midlands or have strong links to the region 
• Must be 18+ 
• Must have choreographic work in development 
• Can be at any stage of career, however must have completed undergraduate training 
• Can apply if currently undertaking a Post Graduate, PHD or equivalent qualification 
• Can apply regardless of past/ present funding support (if any), however must declare any current funding support for current work in development on the application

Key Dates

How to Apply

• An up to date CV
• Written or video response to the following questions;
  • What is your experience of developing, making and/or sharing dance choreography and developing your choreographic practice so far?
  • Can you give us an overview of the current choreographic work you are developing and how the EMDAN mentoring programme will help you in furthering this work and you as an artist?
  • What are your future aims (short and/or long term) for your choreographic work and processes?
• Up to 3 links to examples of your artistic/choreographic work and/or processes/ practice either in rehearsal or performance
• Details of any funding you are currently receiving to support your work in progress (we do not need any information on funding support for past works)

FInd out more about each of the 4 mentors

Please send completed applications to Sarah Butler emdanetwork@gmail.com by Friday 17 July, 5pm.  

All applicants will be informed of outcome by Friday 31st July 

This call out is also available as an Easy Read document. Email our administrator, Karla Jones @ emdanetwork@gmail.com for a copy. 

Information Session

This call out is open to all and we want all applicants to feel comfortable and confident in applying for this opportunity. We are offering an online Q&A session with EMDAN Director/ Project Manager, Sarah Butler, on Thursday  25th June 11.30am to answer any questions or queries you may have regarding the application process.

Please email Sarah Butler @ emdanetwork@gmail.com to be sent the Zoom link.