SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF DANCE + IMPROVISATION
PERFORMANCE COHORTS
JULY 14 – AUGUST 3, 2024
The PERFORMANCE Cohorts are immersive summer dance experiences for dancers of all ages and levels from beginning through professional.
Immerse yourself in three weeks of daily dance and movement training that will build your dance skills and connect you to your body and community. Daily classes with awesome and supportive local and national faculty will build stamina, movement skills, and artistry.
Then you’ll bring those skills into a new dance creation process led by cohort choreographer, culminating in final performances to share with friends, family, and the wider Seattle dance community. Whether you’re a dancer looking to connect and get your start in the Seattle dance scene, or someone who has never tried dance but always wanted to, we can’t wait to move with you this summer!
COHORTS
PROFESSIONAL
with Jasmine Hearn + Lavinia Vago
The Professional Cohort is for dancers with, or looking to gain, professional dance experience. Participants in this cohort have the opportunity to train with national dance artists and build relationships that can kickstart a professional career in this city and beyond. The Professional Cohort is a daytime intensive experience where you’ll dance all day in challenging morning technique classes, and new-work creation processes with established choreographers.
In WEEK 1 participants will make a new, site-responsive work with Jasmine Hearn at Freeway Park.
In WEEKS 2-3 participants make a new work for the stage with Lavinia Vago.
Ultimate SFD+I includes the Full Professional Cohort to learn and perform two new works in three weeks!
This level is perfect for you if you are a dancer that is interested in pursuing a professional career in dance, or is already working professionally as a dancer and is at least 18 years of age.
INTERMEDIATE
with Noel Price-Bracey
The Intermediate Cohort is an evening program for adult dancers with a few years of dance training who want to take their technique and artistry to the next level. Participants take fundamentals technique classes in different styles of dance as well as classes in dance making, improvisation, and performance all while developing a new work in collaboration with Seattle choreographer Noel Price-Bracey.
This Cohort is for dancers 18 years or older who have some experience with dance and are looking to expand their skills and artistry.
BEGINNER
with Kaitlin McCarthy
The Beginner Cohort is for adult dancers who want to dive into the world of dance in Seattle. This cohort will learn the fundamental techniques of contemporary dance and funk, soul, and disco while rehearsing a new work with Kaitlin McCarthy to perform at the end of the three weeks.
This Cohort is for dancers 18 years or older.
YOUTH
with Akoiya Harris
The Youth Cohort is for aspiring professional dancers that are in, moving into, or moving out of High School. This cohort will provide participants with dance technique classes of many styles, as well as improvisation and dance making classes, and will culminate in a performance choreographed by Akoiya Harris at the end of the three weeks.
This Cohort is recommended for dancers 13-18 years.
WHAT ARE PERFORMANCE COHORTS?
We call levels “cohorts” to get at the group dynamic and relationships created at SFD+I. Your cohort will be your team over the three-week program. You’ll take class together while you co-create a new dance piece with a choreographer. Then you’ll share the excitement of being onstage together in the theater, performing what you made together.
We’ve indicated the general level of dance experience each cohort is designed for, but reach out to us if you have questions or need help picking your cohort.
PAYMENTS + DEPOSITS + REFUNDS
PAYMENT OPTIONS
To reserve your spot you can either pay in full* or hold your place with a non-refundable $350 deposit. Full payment to confirm your registration is required by June 19.
Registration for a la carte intensives, classes, workshops, and jams will open on June 20 and spaces will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. To register a la carte you will pay in full, though let us know if you need to discuss a payment plan.
Please contact Shirley Wong, operations@velocitydancecenter.org, for any questions or clarifications about registration or payment.
*ULTIMATE SFD+I, PERFORMANCE Cohorts, and RESEARCH Week payments include a $350 non-refundable deposit.
REFUND POLICY
Velocity’s refund policies were created to offer as much flexibility to our community as possible, while still protecting SFD+I from risk and instability.
The refund schedule for the Ultimate SFD+I, Performance Cohorts, or Research Week is:
- Before June 19: All registration fees, less the $350 non-refundable deposit, are fully refundable for any reason.
- After June 19: All registration fees, less the $350 non-refundable deposit, are 50% refundable for any reason.
- After your first class begins: All registration fees are non-refundable for any reason, including illness or injury.
The refund schedule for all a la carte intensives, workshops or classes (available after June 20) is:
- After you register: All registration fees are 50% refundable for any reason.
- After your first class begins: All registration fees are non-refundable for any reason, including illness or injury.
ARE THERE ANY SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS AVAILABLE?
WORK STUDY
Velocity’s Summer Work/Study program provides the opportunity for participants to receive discounted attendance to the Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation in exchange for festival support. The deadline for this program is February 1st. Please email operations@velocitydancecenter.org with any questions.
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.
TBIPOC TUITON WAIVER
As a part of Velocity’s Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation we are providing $10,000 in fee waivers to dancers who identify as Transgender, Black, Indigenous, and/or as People of Color, in an effort to shift power to Transgender and BIPOC communities. The deadline for this program is February 1st. Please email operations@velocitydancecenter.org with any questions.
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.
IS HOUSING AVAILABLE DURING THE FESTIVAL?
PARTICIPANT HOUSING
The vast majority of servers are private, invite-only spaces for groups of friends and communities to stay in touch and spend time together. There are also larger, more open communities, generally centered around specific topics such as popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite. Users have control over whom they interact with and what their experience on Discord is.
2. Click Login > Register.
3. Fill your Details > Complete Captcha.
4. Account Created.
5. Verify your Email.
ARE INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR SFD+I?
INTERNSHIPS
Velocity is honored to partner with NW Folklife to provide one Summer Programming Internship from May – October. This internship will help program two international festivals, SFD+I and Mouthwater Festival.
HOW DO I ACCESS CLASSES AS A DROP-IN PARTICIPANT?
DROP-INS
Morning technique classes and Intermediate evening technique classes are open for drop-ins. Registration for these classes will be through Jot Form, where drop-in participants can register and pay. Registration for Drop-In classes will open on June 20.
REGISTER FOR YOUR IMMERSIVE SUMMER EXPERIENCE
ULTIMATE SFD+I
Velocity’s best summer dance experience combines your chosen PERFORMANCE Cohort and the full RESEARCH Week for a money-saving, bundled price of $1200 $995 with early bird pricing before Feb 15!.