About the Program
The RBC DJD Dance Centre Creative Residency is a program that aims to support independent dance artists in Calgary and nationwide. The residency program has been created to support the research, development, and/or final phase of production for independent choreographers working on specified, self-directed projects that are targeted for production. During the residency, artists will have access to one studio at the DJD Dance Centre free of charge for the duration of their residency. This program is designed to allow choreographers to work and grow in a concentrated manner and with as few limits as possible to the choreographer’s creative energies.
Applications are due March 17 for the July-December 2025 period.
Who is Eligible
Priority will be given to mid-career and established independent artists with a proven track record and a solid project proposal. Priority will also be given to independent artists not specifically associated with an established dance organization (charitable or for-profit). Emerging choreographers are also encouraged to apply and may be granted shorter windows of residency time based on availability.
"I am extremely thankful for the DJD creative residency program. This is a project I have wanted to work on for many years now and was extremely proud of the final product. I felt my growth as a choreographer and director from my first piece. Thank you to DJD for supplying proper floors for tap dancers as this is still an issue for us in many studios and venues. I hope to use this program again in the future."
Danny Nielsen (2019)
"I am extremely grateful for the DJD Dance Centre Creative Residency Program. I believe the program allows an artist to maximize artistic freedom by taking away the constraints of time, rehearsal space, and the pressure to produce a final product. Thank you to DJD for this incredible opportunity!"
Sylvie Moquin (2019)
"The generosity provided through the DJD Creative Residency is a perfect example of how this organization is sharing within our community for the enrichment of the entire sector."
Mark Ikeda (2018)
"This generously provided a beautiful space to delve into my choreographic practice, opportunity to connect with a new creative community and time to focus on my latest creation."
Rebecca Sawdon (2018)
"We want to extend our sincere gratitude to DJD for supporting Bodied Indivisible’s endeavours, believing in our artistic potential and allowing us to work and create in your beautiful facility. This project was a very successful undertaking in allowing us the time and space to create and refine our work which resulted in achieving our creative vision for the project."
Catherine Hayward and Shayne Johnson (2019)
"Having the opportunity to study intensively in the DJD studios for one month was essential for producing practice-based research work. We are very grateful to have had the support from DJD both on an individual level (the ladies at the front desk are magnificent!) as well as from the institution at large."
Barbara England (2019)
"We have greatly appreciated working at DJD. The environment is supportive to the working artist, with an atmosphere that has been designed to support creativity. The staff at DJD were always welcoming and willing to help us when we needed it. We both felt very welcomed in the space, which contributed to setting the foundation for successful rehearsals."
Kyra Newton (2019)
APPLY FOR THE 2025 CREATIVE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Applications are due March 17 for the July-December 2025 period.
DOWNLOAD THE 2025 APPLICATIONPAST RECIPIENTS
2024
- Boys Club-Laura Donaldson
- Nappy Dance-Cindy Ansah & Tiara Matusin
- Danny Nielsen
- National Access Arts
- Project in Tandem-Meghann Michalsky
- Rosanna Terracciano
- Jordyn Lemire
- Cindy Ansah & Ashley Johnston
- George Stamos
- Ezgi Turker
- Jasmine Almaguer Sheldrick
- Kathryn Hood
- Leda Davies
- Rumi Jerag & Max Hanic
- Sarah Hutton & Aiden Cass
- Melanie Batycky
- Jennifer McLeigh-Lewis *
*Postponed/TBA
2023
- Cindy Ansah and Ashley Johnston*
- Laura Donaldson
- Kevin Fraser*
- Nicole Charlton-Goodbrand
- Rosanna Terracciano
- National Access Arts
- Barbara England
- Jessica Muszynski
- Nicole Mion
- Serenella Arguetta
- Samantha Ketsa*
- Jared Herring
- Katharina Schier and Alexandra Contreras*
*Postponed/TBA
2022
- Jocelyn Leiver and Eden Hildebrand
- Ashley Johnston
- Sarah Porter*
- Jessie Garon
- Tracy Cumberbatch
- Serenella Arguetta
- Christahh Ahh
- Helen Husak
- Karissa Barry
- Rasika Borse and Jennah Mohamed*
- Kyra Newton
- Laura Donaldson
*Postponed/TBA
2021
- Cindy Ansah & Tiara Matusin
- Rasika Borse & Jenna Mohamed
- Nicole Charlton-Goodbrand
- Allara Gooliaff
- Nicole Mion*
- Katharina Schier
- Katherine Semchuk
- George Stamos*
- Rosanna Terracciano
- Pamela Tzeng*
- Christianne Ullmark*
*Postponed/TBA
2020
- Kara Bullock
- Kathleen Doherty*
- Barbara England
- Aria Evans*
- Megan Hunter
- Melanie Kloetzel*
- Meghann Michalsky
- Sylvie Moquin
- Erin O’Loughlin*
- Katharina Schier*
- Avery Smith*
- George Stamos*
- Rosanna Terracciano
- Heather Ware*
*Postponed/TBA due to COVID
2019
- Barbara England
- Catherine Hayward & Shayne Johnson
- Sasha Ivanochko
- Meghann Michalsky
- Sylvie Moquin
- Danny Nielsen
- Kyra Newton
- Rosanna Terracciano
2018
- Kyrsten Blair & Tina Guthrie
- Mark Ikeda
- Melanie Klotzel
- Rebecca Sawdon
- Su Lin Tseng
2017
- Kate Stashko
- Linnea Swan
- Pamela Tzeng
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTER
