SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF DANCE + IMPROVISATION

YOUTH COHORT

July 22 – August 3, 2024

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.

 

This is a new program for SFD+I but it is grounded in the lineage of many Seattle visionary artists and programs.

SFD+I Youth Cohort was launched in the spirit of the Young Choreographers Lab started by Liz Young and Amy O’Neal through Seattle Theater Group in 2010, which then merged with Velocity to form Seattle Youth Dance Collective in 2013 directed by Amy O’Neal and Tonya Lockyer, then Young Choreographers Club in 2022 directed by Moonyeka (former Young Choreographers Lab participant).

 

YOUTH PERFORMANCE COHORT INCLUDES:

  • MORNING CLASS
  • AFTERNOON REHEARSALS
  • THREE FINAL PERFORMANCES

$750

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

MOVING MEMORIES

CONTEMPORARY TECHNIQUE

IMPROVISATION

CROSS POLLINATE

MEET THE CHOREOGRAPHER

AKOIYA HARRIS

 

PROCESS:

This experience is for anyone who has a love of movement and storytelling, regardless of level. Young dancers will be highly encouraged to contribute their voices and uniqueness to the room. The body is capable of many forms of remembering. As individuals, we contribute to how something is recalled by our communities through sharing our personal memories. We will explore how we hold memory and how it can be used to create movement.

 

ARTIST:

Akoiya Harris is a movement artist based in Seattle Washington. Her work uses a queer Black gaze to look at the ways art holds personal and communal histories. As a choreographer, she has shown work at the Seattle Art Museum, Wa Na Wari, On The Boards, Friends of the Waterfront, The Moore Theater, Velocity Dance Center, and more. Akoiya is a founding member of Black Collectivity, a group that explores memory and culture through embodied responses. She has also performed with Spectrum Dance Theater, Will Rawls, Zoe|Juniper, Third Rail Projects, SoloMagic, and Black Collectivity. She also has the pleasure of teaching at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Ailey Camp.

Photo by Marcia Davis

TEACHING ARTISTS

AMY J LAMBERT

KEYES WILEY

MAYA SOTO

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

In response to the rising housing costs in Seattle during the summer, SFD+I + Velocity is hosting a Discord Server for SFD+I Participants + Seattle Locals to work together to find housing opportunities for a cheaper price.
 
Looking to sublet your place or need housing for SFD+I?
 
What is Discord?
Discord is a voice, video, and text chat app that’s used by tens of millions of people ages 13+ to talk and hang out with their communities and friends.
People use Discord daily to talk about many things, ranging from art projects and family trips to homework and mental health support. It’s a home for communities of any size, but it’s most widely used by small and active groups of people who talk regularly.
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.
People love Discord because it’s a home for all their communities and groups of friends. It’s a place where they can be themselves and spend time with other people who share their interests and hobbies. Conversations on Discord are driven by the people you choose and the topics you choose to talk about.
 
How to sign up?
1. Visit discordapp.com.
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.

APPLY

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!.

 

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