New Works 2025 -

Call for Choreographers

*You cannot save your work in the form. We recommend viewing the application ahead of time to see the requirements, then filling it out once all your materials are ready.

About the Program

Synapse Arts invites proposals from choreographers/directors who wish to take part in New Works, a program that supports independent dance artists by commissioning them to make original performance pieces. This Chicago-based program reflects the founding principles of Synapse Arts, connecting artists with one another to share resources and develop their voices through the creation of unique artworks. Since its beginning in 2010, New Works has commissioned more than 25 original dance-centric works.

The 2025 cycle will begin in January, with final showings, screenings, or works-in-progress sharings as the culmination, during Chicago Dance Month in June 2025.

Artists may select whether they plan to create work that is for live performance in a small black box type theater, a virtual performance, a site-specific live performance, or dance film/video. The final presentations will be low tech, casual, and inclusive.

Two choreographer/director positions are available by application. Applicants should be independent artists who are developing their body of work and are interested in learning how to self-produce, or who are taking their work in a new direction. Proposed pieces may be created for any number of performers, including solos, and can be part of ongoing projects.

Please note:

Applicants who have not worked within the New Works program previously will take priority.
Artists cast their own works - think along the lines of self-production with support.
Synapse is an artist led organization that works to co-support art makers, we are not a production company or repertory company.
Preference is given to professional artists not currently enrolled in a degree program.

INFO SESSIONS

A free application workshop took place in person at Loyola Park on Saturday, October 26th 2-3:30pm CDT, as part of Synapse Arts' annual Free Dance Day event. Former New Works artist and review panelist Chris Knowlton led the workshop, along with former New Works artist and panelist Jamila Kekulah. Notes from that session are available below!

A recorded information session from a panel of former New Works artists, including Maria Blanco (of LOUD BODIES), Chris Knowlton, Amanda Ramirez, Megan Rhyme, and Nora Sharp is viewable here. Please email info@synapsearts.com to request a transcript of the closed captioning.

This recording is also viewable on the New Works page of our website at synapsearts.com/NewWorks.

WHAT ARTISTS RECEIVE

The selected choreographers/directors will receive:

A $1,000 stipend which can be used to pay oneself and/or to pay for costumes, additional rehearsal space, collaborator fees, etc. Please note that artists will receive a 2025 1099 for this payment.
Free rehearsal space at our Chicago Park District locations (schedules allowing). Synapse works at 3 parks: Loyola Park in Rogers Park, Berger Park Cultural Center in Edgewater, and Lincoln Park Cultural Center in Lincoln Park.
Mentorship from an outside person selected in collaboration with the artist, who receives a stipend.
Support from the staff and collaborators of Synapse, including a work-in-progress showing and rehearsal visits if desired.
Hands-on experience in performance production.
A place in a final performance or showing or screening, produced by Synapse Arts with public relations & marketing.
Professional photos and video of their work.

This minimal and flexible structure is intended to organize a process that provides balance and direction without restricting creativity. New Works can be a step in your artistic evolution; we are interested in helping move focused artistry forward.

We are attempting to be as transparent as possible in explaining this program and what we are asking for in your proposal. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out via email. Since our staff does not work full time (we are all part time workers) we do not have an office number and prioritize written communication that can be answered during our work hours. Transparency is a way of de-bundling the power we acknowledge exists within the relationship between an organization and an applicant, please know that we are artists ourselves and have experienced all the parts of application processes. All respectful questions are welcome!

NOTES

A note on language in your application: we are aware of and have been complicit in the “professionalization” of proposal language which centers whiteness and prioritizes education that has not been accessible to everyone. In an effort to better support artists who may not have written proposals before, we ask that you focus on communicating your ideas in the best way that reflects your style. If we are unclear on essential elements, we will reach out to you. You can also join the in-person application workshop on October 26th.

Accountability is important in this program. New Works creators who can respond to deadlines and lead their own projects lessen the workload for our small staff, and in our experience, get more out of what this program offers.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel that includes Synapse staff, ensemble, board members, and previous New Works artists and mentors. A minimum of 50% of the panel will be individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and a minimum of 25% BILPOC. Please consider how your work intersects or aligns with the Synapse values of supporting LGBTQIA+ and women of all identities before applying. The program is directed by Rachel Damon with support from Jamila Kekulah and other Synapse stakeholders.

To apply, please fill out the website form BY MIDNIGHT on NOVEMBER 20, 2024. Please note that late applications will not be reviewed as it overextends our small staff.

*You cannot save your work in the form. We recommend viewing the application ahead of time to see the requirements, then filling it out once all your materials are ready.

Narrative - This can be a written narrative OR a video OR an audio recording. You decide which method best suits you, only one method of narration/explanation is needed and only one method will be shared with panelists.

For a written narrative: Two pages maximum with 12 point font, 1” margins, and single spaced

For a video narrative: Take a simple video of yourself (phone selfie is fine) that is a maximum of 5 minutes long, addressing the same questions below. Upload the video to a file sharing platform (Dropbox, Google Drive etc) and include the link as an attachment.

For an audio narrative: Take a simple audio recording of yourself (phone voice memo is fine) that is a maximum of 5 minutes long, addressing the same questions below. Upload the audio to a file sharing platform (Dropbox, Google Drive etc) and include the link as an attachment.

Questions: What do you plan to do? Describe the concept or idea you would like to develop, how your personal style of performance-making will approach this idea, and a brief description of what the final work might look like. Describe any envisioned plans for live performance, site specific performance, virtual or video-based performance and attend to details about sound, costumes, etc. and how you will create these elements. Proposed pieces should be no longer than 20-25 minutes in length.

What do you want to learn and why, during this process? Address how making this piece fits into your history and future as a choreographer and/or director. What aspects of producing your work are most interesting to you, and what do you want to learn more about?

Prior experience in professional presenting is not necessary, however if you have no prior professional experience please include an additional paragraph describing how you are prepared to manage the resources available through the largely self-directed New Works program.

Schedule - one page maximum

Please outline the anticipated rehearsal/creative schedule, taking into account these important dates. Think about whether you want to work weekly, intensively, or in some other format.

November 20, 2024 – New Works proposals due

December, 2024 – notification of chosen choreographers/directors

January, 2025 – projects begin

Late June, 2025 – final showing/performance/screening(s)

Background - two pages maximum

A resume or CV with your complete contact information and a listing of relevant experience in performance, production, teaching, marketing, and/or presentation.Here are some examples.

Two professional references and their contact information, if you have them. This is something you can add later if your proposal is selected as a finalist by the review panel.

Work sample

A link to a full-length video of an original work created within the last five years. Vimeo, YouTube, and online storage links such as Dropbox (with password provided as necessary) are preferred.

The selected work should be a minimum of 5 minutes long, and the panel will view no more than 15 minutes of longer works. Please specify the time frame you would like reviewers to watch, if the sample piece is longer than 15 minutes.

FAQ's

If I don’t live in Chicago full time, can I still apply?

Yes. Please consider that multiple events related to the New Works program take place in Chicago, and artists would need to be able to be present for some of those events.

Do I cast my own work, if I want to work with other dancers/performers/collaborators?

Yes, you set up your team. You are welcome to ask any of the Synapse collaborators to be a part of your project, but we do not provide a cast.

If I want to make a live performance, what happens if we have COVID-19 related complications?

This is an important consideration for rehearsals/creative process as well as any culminating presentations. We are leaving it up to the artist to tell us what kind of format works best partly because we have all been through cancellations and postponements due to COVID. We can encourage masking and provide masks, however since we work in Park District spaces we are required to follow their guidelines.

Do I need to know everything about my piece to apply?

Definitely not. This program emphasizes process over product. How you investigate your proposed ideas may change how you make work, and how you want to share it with others. The resources of this program are more about space, time, learning by doing, and having supportive sounding boards. The stipend is intended to help you along your way, not set an expectation.

Who is on the review panel? How does the panel evaluate proposals?

Panelists include former New Works artists, former New Works mentors, and Synapse stakeholders such as staff, board, teachers, and artists. At least 50% of the panel will be individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and a minimum of 25% identifying as BILPOC. Panel members names are only publicized if the panelist gives us permission to share that information.

Depending on how many applications are received, panelists are placed in small groups and read 5-7 applications. Each group brings their top choices to a review meeting with the full panel.

Panelists discuss the most fitting applicants using criteria such as:

Does this artist sound like they would benefit from the New Works program at this moment in their career?
Has the applicant demonstrated an interest in learning more about how to self produce?
Has the applicant presented their own work before? If not, could they manage this program with its responsibilities and limitations?

The group meeting of panelists typically results in a few finalists. The Synapse staff then contacts these finalists for any professional references and talks with those references. The panel makes their selections based on all information gathered.

Who at Synapse manages this program? What about Synapse’s ethos influences New Works overall?

Please consider how your work intersects or aligns with the Synapse Values before applying. The program is directed by Rachel Damon with support from Jamila Kekulah other Synapse staff and stakeholders.

Still have questions? Find out more about Synapse Arts at www.synapsearts.com or email rachel@synapsearts.com.