Biennale College Danza: new call for applications open until 8 March

Starting Thursday February 8^th, through Friday March 8^th, the new international calls launched respectively for young dancers and choreographers and for the new edition of Biennale College Danza will be available online on the website of La Biennale di Venezia – www.labiennale.org. Following the creations of Teshigawara and Xie Xin, the revivals of works from the repertories of Crystal Pite, Merce Cunningham, Simone Forti, for the next edition of Biennale College Danza the artistic director himself, Wayne McGregor, will be working on a new creation with and for the young dancers, which will premiere on the stage of the 18^th International Festival of Contemporary Dance (18 July > 3 August).

Once again this year, 16 dancers between the ages of 18 and 28 will be selected along with 2 choreographers, for an intensive immersive residency in Venice: a unique three-month programme to study under the mentorship of great international masters, develop their personal artistic skills, and acquire the practical capabilities required to break into the dance market – from the creation of a portfolio to contracts, and including commissions and intellectual property rights.

From May 13^th through August 3^rd, the selected young artists will work daily in the Sale d’Armi of the Arsenale, attending classes in classical and contemporary technique and workshops focused on repertory, the creative process, and improvisation with an eye to developing new creations.

With the intent to expand a new generation of dance artists, Biennale College Danza’s theoretical and practical course of studies will conclude within the 18^th Festival with the presentation of new choreographic works commissioned by La Biennale, and specifically:

• a new creation by Wayne McGregor conceived for the space of the Sala Grande in the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido, and developed in collaboration with the young dancers of Biennale College together with the Wayne McGregor Company, which for the occasion will be in residence in Venice;
• a new creation by Cristina Caprioli, one of the major choreographers and experimental theoreticians of Scandinavian dance, the author of works that disrupt the linguistic and perceptive conventions of dance, and who in the course of the residency will be both teacher and mentor to the selected dancers;
• two original new creations conceived by the selected choreographers, who will work together on their development with the dancers of the College.

The 18^th International Festival of Contemporary Dance, to be held in Venice from July 18^th to August 3^rd, will be a place of critical and creative exchange for the dancers and choreographers of Biennale College who not only will present their works at the close of their training process, but will also have the opportunity to attend all the events in the festival, and participate in lectures and mini-residencies with the invited artists.

The official texts of the calls for Biennale College Danza 2024 complete with the programme, benefits and concessions (travel, housing, transportation, artists’ fees) are available online:

Call for applications: choreographers

Call for applications: dancers

Biennale College is an experience that since 2012 has complemented all the Departments of La Biennale di Venezia – Art, Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theatre, ASAC – to promote young talents, offering them the opportunity to work in close contact with mentors to develop creations that will become part of the artistic programmes.

Biennale College, organized by La Biennale di Venezia, enjoys the support of the Ministry of the Cultural Heritage and Activities – General Directorate for the Performing Arts and the Regione del Veneto.