New FABRIC Residency artists announced supporting dance development in the UK
FABRIC is delighted to announce the seven successful recipients of an exciting new residency programme
FABRIC, the organisation recently formed from the merger of DanceXchange and Dance4, is delighted to announce the seven successful recipients of an exciting new residency programme to provide artists based in the UK with financial investment, space, and staff time to explore new ideas and support the realisation of projects.
Reflecting FABRIC’s ambitious vision to inspire people through dance, transforming lives, communities and places, these substantial new residencies are part of the newly merged organisation’s strategy to improve the working conditions of artists, and to invest in new research and creation that will engage and resonate with audiences in fresh and different ways.
With a total budget of £50,000 the residencies actively encouraged applications from artists with different lived experiences, skills, perspectives, and stories. At least 2 places were exclusive to artists currently living and working in the Midlands and at least 2 places were for artists that identifying as D/deaf/ Disabled/ neurodivergent or with a long-term health condition. The opportunity proved extremely popular with 124 applications received, and the successful artists reflect a broad range of voices.
Four of the artists have been awarded residencies for open research, designed to provide an opportunity to explore new ways of thinking about and doing dance, movement, and choreography.
- Kesha Raithatha a choreographer and performer based in Leicester
- Claudia Palazzo a London-based choreographer
- Amanda Hose-Hawley a Community Dance Leader at IMPACD C.I.C in Nottingham
- Christopher Radford and Sara Macqueen, of Linden Dance Company based in Birmingham
Kesha Raithatha commented,
My heritage, family history and cross-cultural experiences influence my artistic choices. It is important for me, to advocate working in my home region, the midlands where there is a public invisibility of forgotten South Asians, whilst reinventing narratives for minority artists.
Three of the artists have been awarded residencies for projects that take existing research and development into the final stages of creation. All of these include public showcasing and future touring work supported by a range of additional partners and funders.
- Rosie Heafford, Artistic Director of Second Hand Dance in Surrey
- Tylor Deyn and Jacob Samuel of BULLYACHE based in London
- Stuart Waters a dance artist based in East Sussex
Stuart Waters said
In these challenging times, I feel really honoured to have an invitation from FABRIC to develop elements of a project I feel strongly about, and which centres intersectionality, care and queerness. This residency is going to be enormously valuable to reach out into communities within the Midlands to co-create new work.
For more information about each artist and their project visit their project pages here
FABRIC will be working with the selected artists over the next 6 months and will open a new application process for a further residency opportunity in 2023.
Image from Deciphers (working title) an international collaboration between choreographers @jeanabreudance and @naishi_wang supported by @fabric.dance residency in July 2022 Photograph by Omer Yukseker
