Research Programme
COMMISSIONING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES
Dance Consortia North West’s two-year programme of research commissions artists and organisations who want to re-imagine dance, be more creative and work with artists and creators from many different backgrounds and styles of dance.
The commissions explore new ways of making work, engaging people, showcasing artists, generating employment in dance, reducing inequalities, and bringing different kinds of dance to all kinds of spaces. The aim is to create and share exciting dance programme which creates stronger dance professionals, organisations and audiences.
The Research Programme commissions artists, companies, academics, venues and others to make work in one of three strands:
DANCE LABS: Commissions that experiment through artistic practice including choreography, performance, workshops, academic, or other relevant methodologies
PLATFORMS: Performances, scratch nights and showcases to present work and artists at formal and informal venues to engage colleagues, audiences and programmers
IMPLEMENTING CHANGE: Sharing and using research for sustainable change in practice, engagement and dance infrastructure.
The DCNW Research Programme has been created from the needs of the North West dance sector and the commissions have been led by the sector. The proposal process has been open and flexible and responsive rather than restrictive. Most importantly, the commissions work to make positive impact on the sector, experiment to resolve issues or create knowledge, and have take into account the priorities of the programme.
Research programme Priorities
The commissions work to meet the project’s priorities:
ADAPTING TO LIFE BEYOND COVID
To help recover lost audiences and engage with artists and audiences who are adapting to Covid. The commissions develop new ways of creating and performing dance while experimenting to create the future of dance.
REDUCING INEQUALITIES
Project commissions target communities of lower engagement, including artists and audiences from Black and Asian diasporas, from lower socio-economic backgrounds, in geographic cold spots, or those who encounter disadvantage because they are younger or older.
INCREASING RESILIENCE
To discover new tools to make work and attract audiences and a more diverse workforce. The commissions explore new markets, products and practice and often address issues such as professional development, environmental sustainability, touring, employment, diversity and others.
The commissions emerge from the dancers, creatives, teachers and organisations of the North West.
successful commissions
ROUND ONE COMMISSIONS
Round one commissions for the DCNW Research Programme were awarded in February 2022. Discover the projects commissioned for this round.
ROUND TWO COMMISSIONS
Round two commissions for the DCNW Research Programme were awarded in May 2022. Discover the projects commissioned for this round.
ROUND THREE COMMISSIONS
Round three commissions were awarded in August 2023. Discover the projects here.
