Northern School of Contemporary Dance has been successful in securing Arts Council funding for the second year running to deliver ‘Connections’; a year-long scheme of professional artistic development and performance. The programme includes Northern Connections, specifically designed for emerging dance artists based in the North.

This year, artists for Northern Connections will be sourced through an open call. Budding, emerging choreographers based in the North of England are encouraged to apply by 20 November via the Connections site www.connectionsnscd.com and will be selected by a panel consisting of Janet Smith MBE, NSCD Principal, Tanya Steinhauser, Artist Development Producer at Yorkshire Dance, and Sarah Shead, Creative Producer & founder of Spin Arts.

In total 6 successful applicants will be selected to undertake a 3 week creative/rehearsal studio residency with their dancers/collaborators at NSCD and Yorkshire Dance, with access to bespoke business advice and mentoring from Spin Arts, and mentoring opportunities at NSCD and Yorkshire Dance. Each artist will be supported to stage and light their work and have the opportunity to present it as part of a triple bill showcase performance at NSCD’s Riley Theatre, Leeds, in April and September 2017.

Previous Northern Connections artists include Jamaal Burkmar (subsequent winner of the 2016 New Adventures Choreographer award), Gracefool Collective, Carlos Pons Guerra, Anthony Middleton and James Finnemore. Since participating in the programme, all have gone on to secure funding for independent projects and performance opportunities across the UK and beyond.

Carlos Pons Guerra, Connections 2016 artist said of the experience:

It was a great opportunity for me to re-visit an existing piece and perfect it. The studio time was invaluable and Passionaria is now part of my triple bill Ham and Passion. Receiving valuable feedback from international and local artists on the piece allowed me to refine my creative approach. It has had a great effect on my current work and I consider it a milestone in my career so far.

Janet Smith, Principal at Northern School of Contemporary Dance said:

We are delighted to have this opportunity to build on the success of last year, providing mentoring support and creative and performance opportunities to artists early on in their professional careers. Northern School of Contemporary Dance is committed to ensuring the development of dance in the region and hopes to attract and nurture talented and ambitious individuals.

In 2017 alongside Northern Connections, NSCD will also deliver European Connections, inviting esteemed dance companies from across Europe to perform at The Riley Theatre. Combined, the two strands hope to provide audiences with a varied and inspiring theatre programme that blends the local, regional and European.

To find out more about Northern Connections please visit www.connectionsnscd.com