Critical Dance Writing Fellowship

See Chicago Dance is proud to announce the second edition of the Critical Dance Writing Fellowship, a three-week writing intensive produced in partnership with the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, a world-renowned annual festival taking place in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, a Chicago sister city. The theme for JOMBA! 2021 is “border crossings.”

 

2021 Critical Dance Writing Fellows (For bios and headshots, click here):

 

• Morgan Rondinelli (Normal, IL)
• Joel Solari (Broomfield, CO)
• Ami Watanabe (Crete, IL)
• Sophie Allen (Chicago, IL)
• Angelina DiFranco (Guilford, CT)
• Carmen Gorsuch (Muncie, IN)
• Jennifer Passios (Lunenburg, MA)
• Catherine Meredith (Mentor, OH)
• Dr. David Knowlton (Glen Carbon, IL)
• Jean Wildest (Chicago, IL)
• Rachel Schmidt (Brooklyn, NY)

 

Writers from four countries will gather from Aug. 16-Sept. 5 and participate in workshops, panel discussions and writing practice with the following distinguished writers, scholars and edtors:

 

• Clare Craighead (SA)
• Dr. Sarahleigh Castelyn (UK)
• Lauren Noble (UAE)
• Thobi Maphanga (SA)
• Kivithra Naicker (SA)
• Lisa Goldstone (SA)
• Mdu Mtshali (SA)
• Kirsty Ndawo (SA)
• Ntshadi Mofokeng (SA)
• Tammy Ballantine (SA)
• Lauren Warnecke (USA)
• Gregory King (USA)
• Vicki Crain (USA)

Since 2010, “the JOMBA! Khuluma Dance Writing Residency has nurtured and grown young dance writers and offered tools and skills for the decoding of dance performance,” says Durban-based dance scholar Clare Craighead, who facilitates the intercontinental partnership. “In 2020, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, our festival went online, thus enabling Khuluma to become a three-continent collaboration. We were joined by our partners in the U.K., through Dr. Sarahleigh Castelyn and her students at the University of East London, and in Chicago, USA, through See Chicago Dance. We will be continuing the collaboration in 2021 and be joined by our newest cohort of young writers from Dubai, UAE through Lauren Noble and her Co|laboratory.”

This intensive environment maintains a specific focus on festival reporting, criticism and cross-cultural dialog. The workshops, writing practice and critical discussions will help develop each participant’s voice, deepen their skills through real-time feedback and provide historical and cultural context through independent research and a diverse range of special guests and mentors. The See Chicago Dance cohort will be led by SCD Writer-at-Large and 2020 Fellow Gregory King and Senior Editor Lauren Warnecke.

“Chicago dance and dance writers are richer by this unique partnership, which provides a window to the wealth of dance happening outside our city,” says Warnecke. “I was personally and professionally changed by attending JOMBA! and working on the Khuluma residency in Durban several years ago. It is a silver lining of the pandemic that we’ve been able to continue a collaboration online and provide an in-depth, intensive experience for aspiring dance writers.”


2021 Call for Applications: Critical Dance Writing Fellowship

 

In response to the need for new and emerging dance critics and emergent forms of dance writing, See Chicago Dance is opening a call for applications to anyone interested in writing about dance from a critical perspective.

Now in its second year, the SCD Critical Dance Writing Fellowship is a three-week writing intensive produced in partnership with the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, a world-renowned festival taking place in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa for over two decades. JOMBA! 2021 will focus on “border crossings,” a major theme of this exclusive dance writing opportunity with Chicago’s sister city.

“The JOMBA! Khuluma Dance Writing Residency, initiated in 2010 by veteran South African arts journalist and critic Adrienne Sichel, has become core to the JOMBA! platforms with its intention to nurture and grow young dance writers and offer tools and skills for the decoding of dance performance,” says Durban-based dance scholar Clare Craighead, who facilitates the intercontinental partnership. “In 2020, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, our festival went online, thus enabling Khuluma to become a three-continent collaboration. We were joined by our partners in the U.K., through Dr. Sarahleigh Castelyn and her students in Urban Dance Practice at the University of East London, and in Chicago, USA, through See Chicago Dance.  Having learned and grown through the experience, we will be continuing the collaboration in 2021 and we will be joined by our newest cohort of young writers from Dubai, through Lauren Noble and her Co|laboratory.”

From Aug. 16 – Sept. 5, 2021, approximately eight SCD Dance Writing Fellows will participate in workshops, practice and feedback sessions in conjunction with the JOMBA! Festival. This intensive environment maintains a specific focus on festival reporting, criticism and cross-cultural dialog. The workshops, writing practice and critical discussions will help develop each participant’s voice, deepen their skills through real-time feedback and provide historical and cultural context through independent research and a diverse range of special guests and mentors (to be announced in the weeks to come).

“Chicago dance and dance writers are richer by this unique partnership, which provides a window to the wealth of dance happening outside our city,” says SCD senior editor Lauren Warnecke. “I was personally and professionally changed by attending JOMBA! and working on the Khuluma residency in Durban several years ago. It is a silver lining of the pandemic that we’ve been able to continue a collaboration online and provide an in-depth, intensive experience for aspiring dance writers.”

Isinthu Sethu in isiZulu means ‘our humanity’ and it is through our collaborations and border crossings with a broader global dance community that we find our shared humanity,” says Craighead. “Our interprovincial and international collaborations and exchanges through the Khuluma platforms are vital in nurturing this shared humanity through dance and dance writing.”

 

Eligibility and Application Criteria:

  • Applications are due June 30. The cohort will be announced by approximately July 15.
  • Eligible applicants needn’t have specific experience in dance or dance writing. They should have some familiarity with and interest in dance and be able to demonstrate a clear, concise writing style.
  • The ideal candidate will have some experience in journalism, communications or criticism, though this is not a requirement.
  • If you are interested in seeking college credit for your participation, please so state in your application.
  • Interested parties should submit a cover letter, resume and three writing samples via hyperlink (Google doc, Share Point, online publication, etc.) through this form. Writing samples needn’t be published work. Included in the cover letter should be a statement regarding relevant experience and why you are interested in the fellowship.

Expectations and Requirements:

  • Critical Writing Fellows should be available Aug. 16 – 20 from 8-10am, CST. Daily writing and performance viewing takes place Aug. 24 – Sept. 5. Performances typically stream at noon, CST. Additional morning workshops may be scheduled during the festival, with a wrap-up session on Sept. 5.
  • Workshops take place on Zoom. Performances are streamed via YouTube. All workshops will be spoken in English. Some performances may include text, which may include languages other than English. If you require accommodations for accessibility purposes, please express your needs in your cover letter or reach out to editor@seechicagodance.com.
  • Fellows are requested to write at least three pieces: two reviews and one article of choice in another style (preview, interview, feature or reflection piece).

Compensation and Future Opportunities:

  • There is no cost to participate in this fellowship. Any author that is published by See Chicago Dance during the fellowship will receive a $50 honorarium for each piece published on our website.
  • Upon completion of the fellowship, SCD may extend additional invitations for paid writing for our online publication, moderating audience engagement events or participating in other curatorial efforts.

 

Applications are now closed.