Traverser
Call for projects
Sabor de mi Corazón, chapitre I: Cumbia - Diana León & Paco Ziel, Vías. Photo : Jean-Sébastien Couture
Established through a CALQ grant under the Initiatives structurantes en circulation des spectacles de la relève au Québec [structuring initatives surrounding emerging artists’ shows in Quebec] program, Traverser is a support and presentation program inviting four emerging artists, companies or collectives to be presented by regional multidisciplinary presenters in 2024-2025. The four selected artists, companies or collectives will participate in two years of guided support leading to a tour of their work.
In 2025, the selected artists, companies or collectives will embark on a tour (three shows each) and participate in cultural mediation with presenting partners from the program. Diffusion En Scène – Théâtre Gilles Vigneault, La SPEC du Haut-Richelieu, Le Petit théâtre du Vieux Noranda, Diffusion Momentum – Carré 150, Centre de Création Diffusion de Gaspé, Culture Trois-Rivières.
The goal of the program is to help boost artists’ careers by developing production and tour management skills while providing opportunity for them to engage with regional audiences.
Selected artists, companies or collectives will be provided with artistic, production, market development and cultural mediation support. They will have access to training programs, a customized support program and mentorship. Each artist will receive a $25 000$ to cover a portion of their travel expenses while touring, attend market events (Parcours Danse and RIDEAU) and prepare their show, as well as a fee for shows and cultural mediation.
The program is targeted towards emerging dance artists:
- Who have designed a short-form dance show for presentation in a theatre;
- Who are willing to be presented as a double bill;
- Who are willing to participate in a cultural mediation activity in collaboration with presenters;
- Whose artistic practice has spanned a maximum of seven years;
- Who would like to participate in a two-year support program.
Piece selection focuses on artistic relevance, and creations of any genre from emerging dance artists of all origins are welcome. Selected dance projects can be rooted in current creation, ballet, jigging, Indigenous dances, street dance, flamenco, etc.
La danse sur les routes du Québec (La DSR) is a specialized network of artists, agents, companies and presenters working to increase the presentation of dance. Through its many activities and programs, La DSR contributes to dance development within Quebec, Canada and abroad.
As part of Traverser, Tangente collaborates in the design of the call for projects, supports multidisciplinary presenters in the selection of artists and advises La DSR and le RQD in the design of the individualized support program for artists.
The Regroupement québécois de la danse collaborates in the design of the call for projects, the promotion of the project and the design of the individualized support program for artists through a mentoring and coaching offer.
Deadline :
September 2023, 19 at midnight
Aude Watier holds a master’s degree in theatre studies from the Université Paris Nanterre and the École Internationale de théâtre Jacques Lecoq in France. She has been working in the cultural sector for over 16 years.
Aude has worked as general coordinator for dance creation and production organizations for over 10 years, including for the Danse Carpe Diem/Emmanuel Jouthe company. She has coordinated the Jouer dehors program at La danse sur les routes du Québec since 2017, while also overseeing administrative management.
She has acquired a broad range of experience in administration and production as well as in presenting. Passionate about the arts, Aude enjoys working with artists and supporting them in developing their projects.
Glossary
Definition of emerging artists:
The artistic practice of the creator of the piece must span no more than seven years, calculated from the date of the first paid performance of their work with a professional presenter.
Definition of professional presenter (as defined in La DSR’s general rules):
Any professional performing arts organization with a head office in Quebec or on the Indigenous lands of that province that has met at least one of the following conditions:
- Be a member of a recognized performance presentation network or be a member of a dance association (ADST, RIDEAU, CQM, etc.). Proof of membership must be provided;
- Be recognized by their peers. This type of membership application profile requires approval from the Board of Directors. If the Board is lacking the expertise to review the membership application, culturally representative peers will be consulted to assess applicants;
- Be supported by one of the levels of government for their professional dance presentation activities. This type of membership application profile requires approval from the Board of Directors.
Rules
Prerequisites
- Applicants’ artistic practice must span no more than seven years, calculated from the date of the first paid performance of their work with a professional presenter;
- Applicants must reside or have headquarters in Quebec or Indigenous territories in the province;
- Applicants must be able to communicate in French. Support is offered in French;
- Applications may be submitted in either English or French;
- Applications may be submitted in video format (10 min maximum);
- No submission fees;
- No requirement to be a member of La DSR when submitting the application;
- The form must be completed by midnight on September 19 at midnight;
- Artists who would like to submit several pieces must complete a separate form for each piece;
- Upon request, La DSR can provide assistance in preparing applications;
- If there are any access or equity issues associated with the criteria, La DSR encourages candidates to contact our team to discuss these issues and find solutions (please see our Support and Equity Policy);
- Incomplete applications or those received after the application deadline will not be eligible.
Selection criteria :
The selection of pieces is made by a jury of presenters and paid experts. The selection process is part of La DSR’s approach to strive for greater equity for all applicants, including consulting with paid peers who are culturally representative or specialized in the proposed dance form.
- Artistic quality and relevance of the proposal;
- Appropriate visual and descriptive support to accurately portray the artistic proposal;
- Piece that has been professionally presented at least once OR that was part of OR is slated to be part of a technical residency;
- Company’s, collective’s or artist’s ability to invest time and energy in the support program;
- Artistic team’s ability to carry out a cultural mediation activity developed around the show and their interest in doing so.
Selected artists agree to :
- Participate in the program from October 2023 to June 2025;
- Be available the week of November 13, 2023 for preparatory meetings;
- Be available to tour in in winter 2025;
- Be available for training on February 7 and 29 and March 21, 2023;
- Participate in the customized support program offered;
- Be presented as a double bill;
- Be a member of La DSR in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025;
- Attend Parcours Danse and RIDEAU;
- Provide their own promotional tools (videos, photos, promo text) and technical specifications before touring;
- As a producer of the piece, prepare their project and team for touring;
- Participate in a cultural mediation activity in collaboration with presenters;
- Contribute to promotional campaigns to showcase the program and tours;
- Submit a final report (accounting report);
- Participate in the debrief with all program partners.
La danse sur les routes du Québec agrees to :
- Act as project manager;
- Pay, for each artist a $25 000$ to cover a portion of their travel expenses while touring, attend market events (Parcours Danse and RIDEAU) and prepare their show, as well as a fee for shows and cultural mediation;
- Hire and supervise a technical management team that will support artists before and during the presentation of their work;
- In collaboration with project partners: design a customized support program as well as provide access to mentorship and training programs;
- Design and coordinate collective promotional campaigns on social media, its website and its newsletter to launch the call for projects, present artists and promote tours;
- Support artists, companies or collectives in preparing their applications;
- Oversee the call for applications and selection committee;
- Recognize the issues of equity, the impacts of colonialism and the notion of “privileges” in its activities and sector;
- Honour and respect the specific cultural characteristics of artistic practices;
- Facilitate the evaluation of artistic submissions by culturally representative peers;
- Provide services in a spirit of openness and attentive listening, as well as empowerment and self-determination of Indigenous, diverse and equity-deserving artists;
- Participate in developing artistic practices and change efforts in the sector;
- Tools and services are offered in French.
We recognize that the land we stand on is unceded Indigenous territory. We also recognize the Kanien’kehá: ka Nation as custodian of the lands and waters. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations, and today it is home to a diverse Indigenous population, as well as other peoples. It is with respect for the links to the past, present and future that we recognize the ongoing relationships between Indigenous peoples and others in the Montréal community.
