Indigenous Dance Residency

About the Indigenous Dance Residency

The Indigenous Dance Residency (IDR) is the only program in Canada that is led by Indigenous faculty for Indigenous dancers. World-renowned Indigenous choreographers and leading dance instructors come together with dancers from across Canada and around the world to share, investigate, and strengthen contemporary Indigenous dance practice. The combination of high-level faculty, power of place here in the mountains, and being situated in the heart of Blackfoot and Stoney territories make this program truly unique and transformative.

The Indigenous Dance Residency is a three-and-a-half-week intensive that includes daily technique classes, improvisation classes, performance skills, and the creation of a new choreographic work that will be performed as part of the Banff Summer Arts Festival at The Banff Centre. Dancers accepted to the program participate in an exceptional artistic process with other Indigenous artists from various nations, backgrounds, and countries. IDR provides an unprecedented opportunity to establish career-changing relationships with national and international dance professionals.

The Indigenous Dance Residency provides a critical space for emerging and professional dance practitioners to exchange arts and cultural knowledge and practice. Emerging dancers train with high-level faculty, “shadow” professional dancers in classes, and develop performance skills in-studio. Professional dancers work with choreographers and teachers at the top of their fields to create a new short work that will be performed on a main stage with full production values at the conclusion of the residency.

Enrollment is limited to 13 dancers.

Dancers accepted to the program will receive full scholarship for tuition, room, and meals. Travel to and from The Banff Centre will be the responsibility of participants.

Who Should Apply

If you are a professional or an emerging dancer of Indigenous descent looking to advance your technical and performance skills in a rigorous yet supportive community of Indigenous dancers and faculty, this program is for you. Participants must have dance training experience in one or multiple genres of dance. Applications from Canadian and international Indigenous dancers from a diversity of nations and a diversity of dance backgrounds are welcome. For more information, see the Eligibility section.

I think this program is exceptional for Indigenous dancers. A great opportunity and wonderful experience for both dancers and faculty! Creativity abounds in the surroundings and the work ethic is great.
—Jock Soto (Navajo, USA), ballet instructor

This is a program that is unique and ground-breaking, connecting the creativity of Indigenous people from around the world.
—Taane Mete (Maori, New Zealand), lead choreographer

[I am] humbled and amazed by such a strong program both in training and in beauty.
—Jera Wolfe (Métis, Manitoba), participant