Soft Landing is a collaborative professional development program at QL2 Centre for Youth Dance, Canberra. It provides a unique opportunity for tertiary dance graduates to engage, collaborate and forge creative partnerships for the future. The program has been developed over several years and has supported many recent graduates during the difficult transition from the tertiary course into the dance profession. All dance graduates who are within the first two years of completing their degree are eligible.
There are two Soft Landing programs available and each has a core period of 4 weeks in Canberra. Those who are interested must make a clear commitment to the entire process and be available full-time for the period, concluding on the evening of the final day.
Applicants should be prepared to engage in online discussion and research prior to the studio development. Subject to funding, QL2 will provide limited online and phone mentoring support after the program.
There is no fee to participate, and QL2 will pay an allowance of $500 towards costs; however, they will not support arrangements for accommodation in Canberra.
The first program, Soft Landing 1 2011: The Dancer Lands, will accept up to 12 participants and will be directed by independent dance artist and producer Solon Ulbrich, assisted by Amelia McQueen.
Soft Landing 1 is a demanding non-university setting which will challenge and develop participants' practise skills and capacity to respond to choreographers with professional rigour, choreographic intelligence and an awareness of context. It will provide an opportunity to maintain and extend dance training, share knowledge and skills with interstate graduates and launch a creative practice for the future.
Participants will undertake a full time creative process including a daily technique class, contribution to the development of a new dance performance and mentored feedback. There is a requirement to contribute research tasks and creative materials as relevant to personal goals. There will also be sessions on practical information including copyright and risk management, with opportunities to develop teaching and associated production skills. The program concludes with an "in-progress" performance showing at QL2’s theatre.
Soft Landing 1 will take place from Monday, February 7 to Sunday, March 6, 2011.
The second program, Soft Landing 2 2011: Research, History & Re-Invention will be led by independent dance artist Brian Lucas, assisted by Laura Boynes. It will involve 6-9 young graduates, some of whom may have also have been part of Soft Landing 1.
Over a four-week intensive period, the program will focus on participants' development as a choreographer in relation to research, history and re-invention. The National Library of Australia will support research activities, and participants will work towards a professional-level performance season of a short work in QL2’s 92-seat theatre.
There will also be a forum at the Library, where short movement demonstrations will be accompanied by a discussion of history and research in dance creation, led by Lee Christofis. Intensive mentorship will be offered from Brian, and research assistance from Lee.
Soft Landing 2 will take place from Monday, August 15 to Sunday, September 11, 2011.
For those interested in applying send a current CV including references, a photo and brief cover letter expressing the reasons of interest, and which Soft Landing/s you are applying for. Please email QL2.
Applicants must also prepare a video with up to 15 minutes of material demonstrating previous dance experience and skill. For Soft Landing 2 this must include choreography. These can be submitted by uploading to Youtube, but please make your video private, and send QL2 the link; or send a .mov file (max 100Mb) by a free file transfer service such as YouSendIt or Pando. QL2 will also accept DVDs sent my mail as a last resort.
Prime selection criteria will be assessed on a demonstrated desire to work in a mentored environment with the particular leader, potential benefit to the participant, potential contribution of that participant to Australian dance, consideration of availability, commitment, physical capacity and diversity.
Applications will be assessed by Solon Ulbrich: Project Director (SL1), Brian Lucas: Project Director (SL2) and Ruth Osborne: Artistic Director QL2.
Expressions of interest for Soft Landing 1 must be received by December 10, 2010 and successful applicants will be advised via email by December 17, 2010.
For Soft Landing 2 there will be two closing rounds and applications will accepted in either. First round expressions of interest must be received by December 10, 2010 and will successful applicants will be advised via email by December 17, 2010. The second round expressions of interest must be received by May 17, 2011 and successful applicants will be advised via email by June 21, 2011.
For any further queries, don't hesitate to contact QL2 via email or visit their website. Good luck!