Homegrown Associate Producer Programme
Chisenhale Dance Space (CDS) is the home for risk and experimentation in dance and performance.
Situated in Tower Hamlets for over 30 years, CDS offers an alternative space for artists working at the boundaries of both dance practices and social contexts, forging new paths through experimental work. Placing artists at its heart, CDS offers unique approaches to artist, artform and audience development, enabling creative risk through organisational responsibility.
CDS has a reach that extends deep into the local community through to artists and their work nationally and internationally. CDS is historic and nimble, responding to the past and creating the future.
We are seeking 2 Associate Producers with an interest in producing experimental dance and performance work to join our training programme. The programme includes working one day per week at Chisenhale Dance Space on organisational projects such as Allotment and Arts Counselling, plus working one day per week with Dance and the Homemade artists Dan Watson or Project O.
Bursary per Associate: £3,120
Placement timings: July 2015 – January 2016
Approx days per week: 2 days per week
Total number of days: 52 days
Place of work: Chisenhale Dance Space in Bow, London, although when working with independent artists, other London-based venue and national travel may be required.
Applicants will have some experience of producing already, maybe in a different artform or self-producing their own work, and will want to learn more about how a producer works within the differing contexts of a dance organisation and with independent artists.
The two Associates will have a period of training from the CDS team on areas such as tour booking, marketing, artist development and funding, and will apply this learning within their 2 work placements.
More about the independent artists:
Dan Watson is a London based artist working somewhere between dance, performance and messing about. Originally a member of StopGAP Dance Company he went on to work with artists such as Wendy Houstoun, Nigel Charnock, Stan Wont Dance, 5 Men Dancing, Sweetshop Revolution and Seven Sisters Group amongst others. In 2012 Dan was the choreographic assistant for the movie “Les Miserables”. Dan has created two solo projects; Semi Detached and Precariously as well as the duet Jacket Dance. He has also created work for StopGAP, Flight Effect Dance and Them Two Dance.
The aims during the placement are to help make a more definitive footprint for Dan and his work: develop branding, website and marketing, alongside scoping touring potential for existing and new works.
Find out more about Dan and his work here:
Project O is the performative fruits of conversations between independent dance artists Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila Johnson-Small. The London-based project explores ideas around visibility and marginalisation whilst looking to the body as a site – and agent – of politics, desire and dance. Their work has included choreographies for the stage (O, SWAGGA), performative interventions in public spaces (BYBG: Be Your Black Girlfriend), a publication (A Contemporary Struggle), a performance lecture (Benz Punany) and a free training programme (The New Empowering School). Project O are associate artists at Dance Research Studio and 2014 Artsadmin Bursary recipients.
During the placement Project O will be working on a new duet and looking for assistance in fundraising for this and tour booking for previous works. Project O will also be part of the British Council Showcase at Edinburgh this year. Women of colour are encouraged to apply.
Find out more about Project O and their work here:
More about the CDS programmes:
Allotment – nurturing projects where artists take the lead, CDS supports its members to propose and produce events, workshops, classes and more.
Arts Counselling – a programme of free one-to-one advice sessions for artists hosted by experts on areas such as funding, marketing, budgeting, producing and more.
Open Weekend – in collaboration with Chisenhale Art Place and Chisenhale Gallery, CDS will be part of the Open Weekend Festival on 3-4th October.
The Associates will also support the general running of the CDS office.
To apply:
To apply please send a current CV, no longer than 2 sides and a statement expressing your interest in the position and outlining your experiences and skills relevant to the post. Please also explain which independent artist you would be interested in working with and why (you can say both, but provide reasoning for each).
Deadline: Sunday 28th June, 5pm.
We would like to commence interviews on Thursday 2nd July 2015 with a view to the successful candidate starting the placement in July 2015. Please specify if you are available to attend on this date.
Please send applications to with Associate Producer Application 2015 in the subject title.