Program Information
Erin O'Loughlin, Geneviève Boulet, Laura Toma, Lucy May, Matthew Quigley, KIN, La Tresse, Final Tuning, Banff Centre, 2023. Photo by Rita Taylor.
Overview
The Final Tuning residency offers two dance companies the time, space, and resources in a spectacular mountain setting to take their previously developed work to the next stage. Selected companies will receive access to a Banff Centre dance studio for three weeks to work on rehearsing their proposed project. During the second and third weeks, artists will have access to either the recently renovated Jenny Belzberg Theatre, or the Margaret Greenham Theatre (as assigned), to begin implementing technical elements into their projects. Both companies will be given the opportunity to present their work (or work-in-progress) to the public.
What does the program offer?
Selected projects will work with Banff Centre’s dance faculty and production teams in applying final production elements to their work (lights, music, projection, costumes, etc.). You will enjoy hands-on engagement with the faculty - dramaturgy, choreography, sound composition, and other design – to assist in putting together your project. The two companies will work in the theatre in repertory and have the opportunity to fine-tune and present a performance to a public audience. You will also have access to professional production photographs taken of your work for your portfolio.
Who should apply?
Emerging and/or established choreographers and dance companies, working in any form, seeking to work on the finishing touches of their projects. They should have a project and choreography at a late stage of development and be ready to work on layering in elements of lights, projections, sound, etc. for production on the stage. We invite applications (18+) from around the world. Please complete the program budget template to demonstrate that you understand the full costs of the residency and have all additional funding in place required to attend, or a clear plan to obtain funding.
Itinerary
Schedule Breakdown:
Week 1 – Creative Team to work with production in the theatre, Dancers to work in rehearsal studios
Week 2 – Integrate Dancers into the theatre with the creative team
Week 3 – technical rehearsal, rehearsal and shows
*all company members to attend for the full duration of the residency, scheduling will be collaborative with Banff Centre’s production team*
Participant performances are provisionally scheduled for Friday February 21, 2025 and Saturday February 22, 2025.
Faculty
Technical Requirements
What's Included
Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Full Flex meal plan is equivalent to $70 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our Buffet service.
Join in group seminars/workshops.
During the second and third weeks, artists will have access to Banff’s Centre's Jenny Belzberg Theatre, to begin implementing technical elements into their projects. Both companies will be given the opportunity to present their work or work-in-progress to the public at the end of the program.
Create in one of our specialized studios.
The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives - Current Services
The Library is delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty with the following services:
- Open hours: 9:30 am to 1 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Access to collections, including program relevant books, scores, artists’ books, recordings, periodicals, and object library.
- Library accounts for borrowing materials.
- Digital Library, on campus and remote access.
- Library research assistance, by appointment.
- Archives research, by appointment only.
Please email library@banffcentre.ca or archives@banffcentre.ca for more information or assistance.
Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym and fitness suite as well as discounted rates for classes at the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided by our Participant Resources team.
Enjoy special artist rates for ticketed performances or complimentary access to events.
Fees & Financial Assistance
Application fee: $65 for individuals or groups ($35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous).
Application Fees are non-refundable.
Individual group members must pay an additional registration fee of $35 on acceptance.
*Scholarship of 100% is available and will be applied to cover tuition, and 50% is available to offset meals and accommodation costs.
If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. Each individual will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
Help fund your experience at Banff Centre. View a compiled list of national and international opportunities here.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Detailed Project Proposal and Timeline
In 1000 words, describe the framework of your proposed project; your weekly execution plan, details of the mediums you propose to use and your level of knowledge in the processes required, and outline any specific technical or support requirements. You must also include a list of the complete project team.
Please be as clear and complete as possible with your technical requests for your proposed project as it will assist the adjudicators in determining the scope of required technical elements for the performance of your work at the end of the residency. Please note: although your project will be supported by Banff Centre technical staff, we will not have capacity to support robust requests for scenic building or building new costumes, but can assist in pulling wardrobe elements from our already existing stock.
Complete checklist
Confirm you understand that your work is at the final stages required for this program and will be in a position to perform at the end of the 3-week residency on February 21 or February 22, 2025.
- The musical score is developed and will require minor adjustments;
- Concept for lighting has been designed and thought through;
- Creative team has been identified (dancers, composer, designer(s), dramaturg, etc.);
- 60 – 90 minutes of Choreography has been developed; and
- Any elements of prop and set design can be clearly communicated with Banff Centre technical staff and are the responsibility of the applying artist(s) to provide.
- Projection images/design is developed and will require minor adjustments/alterations.
Budget Planning
Download and complete the Dance Participant Budget Planning Tool to show that you have considered all costs associated with your residency application. Completed budget files must be uploaded into SlideRoom along with your Project Proposal.
Note: Please download and complete in Excel, and save as PDF prior to uploading. Download Excel file here. If you are not able to access the file, please email DanceAdmissions@banffcentre.ca for a copy.
Adjudication
Participants are selected by impartial adjudicators on the basis of their submitted material. In addition to artistic merit, consideration will be given to the likelihood that the artist's work will benefit from the program. Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as adjudication is complete.
Additional details: Please be as clear and complete as possible with your technical requests for your proposed project as it will assist the adjudicators in determining the scope of required technical elements for the performance of your work at the end of the residency. Please note: although your project will be supported by Banff Centre technical staff, we will not have capacity to support robust requests for scenic building or building new costumes, but can assist in pulling elements from our already existing stock.
Eligibility
Emerging and/or established choreographers and established dance companies, working in any form, who are seeking to work on the finishing touches of their projects. You should have a project and 60-90 minutes of choreography almost entirely developed and want to work on layering in elements of lights, projections, sound, etc. to do a production of it on the stage. You are expected to have been working with a composer at this stage of the process and should be arriving with a developed score for their public performance at the end of the program.
Final Tuning invites applications from anywhere in the world, and artists of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities, and expressions.
International Applicants
Banff Centre welcomes domestic and international applicants for this program. Please note, Banff Centre programs do not meet Canadian Student Visa eligibility requirements, you must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada. Accepted individuals are responsible for identifying and complying with the immigration requirements to enter Canada as a visitor from their country of origin. Current wait times to receive a visa are much longer than normal, so applicants who require a Visitor Visa should check the current expected processing times prior to applying.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Contact Admissions
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
