Thrive Dance is Looking for Talented Female-Identifying Dancers

We are excited to announce that we are looking for talented female-identifying dancers to join us for a number of roles in our work in 2024 (and beyond).

Our work pushes the boundaries of how we view dance; making work that encourages the audience to have an active role that impacts the journey of the performance. Our Artistic Director Sarah Poekert is interested in how to allow performers to take ownership of the space while also giving the audience impetus and room to play within it. She strives to allow the audience to have a more tactile experience when watching movement. This is done in various ways for different work but has included site-specific work, gallery performances, using traditional theatre spaces in unconventional ways, durational installations, and promenade type performances.

Our work investigates socially relevant themes and personal and collective experience of these topics. We work to uncover the layers of movement material that already exist in every body, like an imprint, using creative tasks, sensory information, imagery and improvisation. The result is work that comes from a personal place of reflection and is intimate and subtle yet meticulous and precise.

What we are looking for:
We are looking to fill several roles, some to learn existing work that is being rehearsed for performances in 2024 and others which will undergo R&D in 2024. Each role has specific criteria so please read the below information carefully. We will ideally be casting one or two people who can take on multiple roles so if you fit the criteria for more than one role we really want to hear from you (and please make this known in your application).

Requirements:

– 1 female-identifying dancer to take on a role in our existing work Half Sewn which is being performed on 9th March 2024 at Deda, Derby

Must have strong partnering skills, be able to pick up material quickly and be comfortable interacting with the audience. Half Sewn is an immersive choreographic installation that follows the intimate journey of four women. The work viscerally engages all the senses as it confronts the patriarchal expectation of females to simultaneously embody strength, sensuality and softness all at once. It weaves together an exploration of female rituals and imagery of the fates in mythology. Trailer: https://www.thrivedance.co.uk/halfsewn

– 1 female-identifying dancer to take on a role in our existing solo It Just Sort of Happens One Day which is being performed on 9th March 2024 at Deda, Derby

Must have experienced pregnancy, labour/delivery and the early stages of motherhood. Must be able to pick up material quickly and be comfortable dancing in close proximity to the audience. ‘It just sort of happens one day…’ is a contemporary dance piece exploring how one creates a sense of home for themselves. It confronts our perception of what home is and questions whether home is in the physical environment around us, in the items we can carry with us or if it’s found within our own bodies. The solo depicts settling and uprooting and settling again to be uprooted again; taking the audience on a journey through various times and places as the performer is displaced from her habitual surroundings and seeks to create her own version of what ‘home’ is. Trailer: https://www.thrivedance.co.uk/it-just-sort-of-happens-one-day

– 1-2 dancers for the first R&D period of our new piece of work Letting Go While Holding On – a new work which will begin by looking at the human experience of grief.

Must have experienced grief and be willing to share their experience – our Artistic Director who is making this work has recently lost her mother somewhat suddenly so this will be a very vulnerable and slow process that will be approached with great care giving space and time for things that might come up.

Priority will be given to those who can fulfil one of the roles above in addition to this one.

All Auditionees should have the following skills:

– Strong Partnering – very strong partnering and contemporary dance skill
– Improvisation and Artistry – we work collaboratively and with a lot of improvisation so this should be a part of your practise
– Worked in Site Specific/Immersive Environments – all our work is site specific or within unconventional structures, you must be comfortable and experienced in working this way as well as highly adaptable
– Commitment – we want people who will join us well beyond the dates listed below for other projects in 2024 and beyond
– Be Open and Curious – we like to work with people who are invested in the creative process and are kind, caring, open and understanding

Other Things to Note:
We will lead a relaxed and friendly audition – we just want to get to know you and equally want you to learn about our work.

As a small unfunded organisation we are unable to support applications from dancers who do not already have a visa in place to work in the UK. We are also unable to cover travel costs to audition.

We welcome applications from dancers who may not come from a traditional dance background who feel they fulfil the criteria of the role.

We recognise that the themes of the work may be triggering for some people and we will be working with a mental health support specialist as safeguarding is a priority.

Fees:
Fees are dependent on role but are ITC rates or above.
Rehearsals and Performances: £150 day rate
Tech Rehearsals/Travel Days: £75 per ½ day
Per Diems: £31 per day when travelling
Teaching: £40 per hour

Dependant on role, dancers must be available the following dates for rehearsals:
(All rehearsals take place at Space Clarence Mews, Hackney, London E5 8HL unless stated otherwise)
13th February 10-4pm Solo Rehearsal
14th-15th February – Two Days R&D for Letting Go While Holding On at Bedfordshire University
19th February 10-4pm Half Sewn Rehearsal
20th February 10-4pm Solo Rehearsal
22nd February 10-4pm Half Sewn Rehearsal
26th February 10-4pm Half Sewn Rehearsal
27th February 10-4pm Solo Rehearsal
29th February 10-4pm Half Sewn Rehearsal
6th March 10-2pm Half Sewn Rehearsal
8th March 2024 – Travel in the morning for leading an afternoon workshop and evening dress rehearsal at Deda, Derby (Half Sewn & Solo)
9th March 2024 – Performance at Deda, Derby (Half Sewn & Solo)
10th March 2024 – Travel home in morning
13th-14th March 2024 – Two Days R&D for Letting Go While Holding On at Bedfordshire University
Further R&D for Letting Go While Holding On: TBC 2024 but will likely be semi-regular rehearsals taking place on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday between 10-4pm in Hackney, London. Other intensive periods and performances TBC.

Where:

Chisenhale Dance Space London, E3 5QZ, UK

When:

Wednesday 7th February 2024 10-4pm

How to Apply:

Please click this link and fill in the form https://forms.gle/ookM2pSWCmWjEwWu5

Form includes:
– Name, Phone, Email, Pronouns
– 1 minute video of you dancing – this video needs to be clearly of you and ideally include some improvisation and partnering. If it is a film of a performance of you as part of a company it needs to be obvious that we are watching you. If you send footage that is longer than 1 minute please clearly state which section we should watch (or we will watch the first minute).
– Your CV – 2 pages maximum
– Paragraph explaining how you fit the criteria for one or more roles listed, why you want to work with us and what you will bring to Thrive Dance. Maximum 300 words.

We will aim to let everyone know the outcome of their application and if they will be invited to audition by Wednesday 31st January 2024. As a small organisation we do not have the capacity to provide feedback on your application form but will offer feedback to anyone who attends the audition in person.

If you want to discuss the role beforehand please email Sarah at [email protected]. We are particularly interested in dancers with backgrounds that are underrepresented such as those from African, Asian or the Global Majority and those from low socio economic backgrounds. If you have any access requirements or require any additional support with the application process, please contact us directly.

Deadline for applications:

Friday 26th January 2024 at 5pm. We will not consider applications after this deadline.