CHOP SHOP will unfortunately not be running an open call for artists this year. Given the unique nature of the 2021 festival and the need to switch to online-only programming, we engaged a cohort of six previous CHOP SHOP artists to co-design this year's programming plan with us and share their work at this edition of the festival. We expect to announce the participating artists and share more details on the 2021 festival in late fall.

Interested in applying for a future festival? Please review the 2020 festival application information below for an idea of what to expect from the application process.

BACKGROUND
CHOP SHOP:  Bodies of Work is seeking U.S. or Canada-based dance companies and individual choreographers with contemporary dance work to be presented at the 13th annual festival, February 15 & 16, 2020, at Meydenbauer Center Theatre in Bellevue, WA. Approximately eight individual artists and/or dance companies will be selected to share their work in both festival performances. In addition to performance opportunities, artists may offer a master class for intermediate/advanced level dancers, lead free and open to all community dance classes and lectures, participate in a pre-show lecture/demonstration on the art of choreography, engage directly with audiences through post-show Q&A sessions, and network with fellow artists. The deadline to apply for CHOP SHOP 2020 is Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 11.59pm (PDT).

CHOP SHOP was founded in 2008 on the mission to forge deeper connections between artists and audiences, offer insight on contemporary dance and its creative process, and promote and share work that is accessible to both new and experienced dance viewers. Applicants are strongly encouraged to view previous festival trailers to gain a feel for the types of work presented at CHOP SHOP before beginning their application. View all festival trailers here.

ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to all dance companies and individual choreographers working in contemporary dance and based in the U.S. or Canada. Works presented at CHOP SHOP must be 10 minutes or less in length. Works in progress are accepted and considered, but your video work sample should show at least 75% of the completed work. Works still in conceptual form will not be considered.

FEES
Each CHOP SHOP 2020 dance company or individual choreographer will receive a performance honorarium:  $800 for works with one performer and $1,000 for works with two or more performers. An additional modest travel stipend of $200 will be provided for dance companies or individual choreographers based outside a 50-mile radius of Bellevue, WA.

Dance companies or individual choreographers offering master classes and/or community engagement classes receive an additional teaching stipend of $70 per hour taught.

APPLICATION RESOURCES
Applicants are strongly encouraged to view previous festival trailers to gain a feel for the types of work presented at CHOP SHOP before beginning their application. All previous festival trailers are viewable here.

As Google Forms doesn't provide an option to start and save your application, you may download an application template for offline work here.  

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Applicant Information:  Name of individual artist or dance company, contact information, etc.  

  2. Letter of Interest:  Please describe why you would like to be considered for CHOP SHOP and your interest and past and/or current experience in promoting the accessibility of contemporary dance, teaching, and community engagement.

  3. Work Proposed for CHOP SHOP:  Title, choreographer's name, length of the work, number of performers, and brief explanation/description of the work.

  4. Work Sample:  Online video of proposed work (not to exceed 10 minutes total).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:  11:59 PM (PDT), Tuesday, July 9, 2019


SELECTION PROCESS
Applicants will be selected using the following criteria:

  • Relevance of letter of interest and alignment with CHOP SHOP's founding mission

  • Accessibility of the proposed work to both new and experienced dance viewers

  • Originality, artistry, and conceptual clarity of proposed work

  • Demonstrated interest in and commitment to teaching, community engagement, and promoting the accessibility of contemporary dance

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
All applicants will be notified of the status of their application by Sunday, September 1, 2019.


QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the festival or application process, please contact us at info [at] chopshopdance [dot] org.

Banner Photo: Marlie Couto performs Margot Gelber’s Follow Her Smiling at CHOP SHOP 2019, photo by Rex Tranter.