VDA Micro-Grant Program

• Dance artists of any genre, race, physical ability, age, or background who are residents of Vermont or live within a 20-mile radius of Vermont.

• Applicants must be active members of VDA. “Active” means current in their membership; participation within our dance community will also be a consideration that is scored in the application.

• Applicants must be available for Gala Tech Rehearsals, and Gala performance dates.

Preference will be given:

• To applicants who have already created an evening-length work (at least 45 minutes) within the last three years. We seek dancemakers who are actively working at their craft at the present time.

• To applicants who demonstrate consistency in their quality of work.

• To applicants who are actively involved within Vermont’s dance community.

• Please note that students enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate programs in any field at the time of application are not eligible.

• Once awarded a VDA micro-grant, choreographers must wait at least one year after their residency season before reapplying.

• We do accept collectives; however, we ask that you apply by way of a single application and specify that you are part of a collective and will be sharing the space with other artists. Please note that the funding is the same for collectives and individual artists.

• Four awardees will receive a stipend of $500, and one will receive $1,000.

• 4 months of free studio space (~$5,000 value). We have partners in northern, central and southern VT who are providing space (be in touch if you have studio space you’d like to donate!),

• Photography and videography documentation of performance (~$350 value).

• Presentation of at least 5 minutes and up to 10 minutes of your piece at VDA’s celebratory Gala next fall. The recipient of the 1,000 award may present up to 15 minutes. This comes with production support, like lighting and sound design (up to $1,000 value).

• Promotions and an advertising campaign ($2,000 value).

Since its founding, VDA has sought to represent dancers of all genres from every corner of the state. Being a dance artist in Vermont is hard; creating change will require a coming together of our community in mutual support, a shared vision for the future of dance in Vermont, and collaboration. This is why we ask applicants to demonstrate their community involvement.

Proposed works should be new. By “new,” we mean that the work has not already been presented as a ticketed performance prior to the residency, and that it will not be shown before VDA premiers it on tour. (An exception might be workshopping small sections of the work for feedback.) This residency is not intended for retooling existing works. If you have previously shown a small section of the work, there will be space to explain the circumstances for consideration in the application.

Applications will be evaluated based on artist’s demonstration of:

• Artistic Excellence. Has the artist achieved a high level of mastery in choreography?

• Experimentation. Does the artist’s practice display innovation, openness to new ideas, perspectives, and techniques?  

• Responsiveness. Is the artist’s work relevant, topical, and in dialogue with issues of contemporary interest? 

• Community engagement. Does the artist demonstrate a willingness and aptitude for significant give and take exchange among colleagues and audiences? Does the artist have a history of engagement with VDA and/or their broader community? 

• Potential impact. How does the artist articulate the impact of this residency on their practice, career, community, and/or the arts in Vermont? 

• Professionalism. Does the artist have a demonstrated track record of following through on commitments, being reliable, communicating clearly and in a timely manner, and treating others with respect? 

1. That talented dance artists representing a diversity of genres, backgrounds, and abilities are given a safe space to tell their stories and bring their perspectives to a large audience.

2. That more dance artists in Vermont are paid for their craft, and are given the time and resources to advance their careers.

3. That dance in Vermont gains a broader platform, understanding, and appreciation among the general public.

4. That more Vermonters have access to excellent dance.

5. To elevate Vermont’s national standing within the performing arts industry, thereby drawing in new funding and talent and expanding the perceived inherent value of dance.

6. That by shifting to micro-grants distributed across multiple people, we can amplify more voices and nurture a wider community of artists as they develop new work.

The arts thrive on diversity. Uniqueness of perspective, experience, expression, medium, and presentation drives innovation in the arts and makes art meaningful to more people. Therefore, a primary goal of the residency is that it serves a diversity of artists. Diversity includes gender, race, physical ability, culture, age, economics, geographic location, and dance genre.

To cultivate diversity, it is necessary that the program be equitable. We are facilitating equity in these ways:

• The application is free.

• We will ensure the application process is accessible to those with diverse needs, and will provide assistance in multiple ways (Zoom meetings, telephone, email).

• Our selection panel reflects the diverse communities we want to serve.

• Panelists are made aware of our goals and values for the residency.

• We are building checks and balances into the selection process in order to identify and correct assumptions.

• We will create a safe space for requests and feedback from participants and applicants.

• Application deadline: February (application period opening Feb 1st)

• 2026 Micro-grant awardees announced mid-April

• May - September 2026: Residency rehearsal period

• Fall 2026: Residency tour