College Partnership Program

The College Partnership Program fosters regular dialogue between college students, professional artists, faculty, and arts administrators living and working in New York City. Students from participating schools are connected to life as a performing artist though educational workshops, creative exchanges, networking opportunities, exposure to unique performances, and Dance Theater Workshop membership.

The College Partnership Program is a tier of Dance Theater Workshop's membership, open to college dance departments in New York City and the surrounding regions. There is an annual participation fee of $750; enrollment takes place during the summer each year.

Members of the College Partnership Program have access to the following benefits:

• NEW! In Progress Showing: an opportunity for students to come together and share new work with their peers while it is still in the developmental phase.
• Senior Retreat: a one day symposium for graduating seniors with a structured laboratory format addressing post-college realities and opportunities. (An additional registration fee of $10 per student is required.)
• Student Performance Lab: each school is invited to submit one student work to be presented during an afternoon showing and feedback session in Dance Theater Workshop’s Bessie Schönberg Theater. (An additional $75 participation fee is required.)
• NEW! Van Lier Fellowship: each school can nominate up to two students graduating in 2009 to be considered for a post- college fellowship at Dance Theater Workshop.
• Subscription Series: students have access to discount tickets through a subscription series custom made for each school.
• NEW! Graduation Celebration: seniors are invited to attend a pre-show reception in the spring to re-connect with Dance Theater Workshop and discuss post-graduation plans.
• Complimentary Dance Theater Workshop Membership for all students graduating from the dance program in 2009.
• Organizational Membership: Connects schools to a vibrant network of artists and resources
• Schools receive a Dance Theater Workshop Organizational Membership, valued at $150

The 2008-09 Dance Theater Workshop College Partnership Program participants are:

Barnard College at Columbia University
Eugene Lang College
Hofstra University
Hunter College
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
Marymount Manhattan College
Muhlenberg College
Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts
Sarah Lawrence College
SUNY Purchase College, Conservatory of Dance

Description of College Partnership Program Benefits:

In Progress Showing

The In Progress Showing is a day-long forum open to students from the CPP schools. The showing is for students and faculty only and will be closed to the public. This event will focus on sharing work that is currently in development and discussing the creative process with peers. The showing will take place in Dance Theater Workshop’s Bessie Schönberg Theater and will be moderated by guest artist, Maura Ngyen Donohue. This event is intended to be relaxed and informal - there will be no tech or programs for the showing. Dance Theater Workshop will have a boom box available to play CD’s and the theater lighting will be set for rehearsal mode. Each school may submit up to 20 minutes of student work to be shown. Faculty are strongly encouraged to select work that is not finished yet. Additionally, please take into consideration that due to time constraints, we will not be able to accommodate set pieces, live accompaniment, pieces that require clean-up, or extensive sound cues.

Subscription Series

Students from participating schools are able to purchase tickets to select performances presented at Dance Theater Workshop for a special $10/ticket price. The Subscription Series structure offers flexibility in terms of which productions each school would like to attend. Artist Services Associate, Richert Schnorr, works with each College Partner individually to determine which shows are the best match for students' interests. Reservations must be made at least two weeks prior to the performance to receive the $10/ticket rate. Ticket reservations are subject to availability.

Student Performance Lab

The Student Performance Lab is an informal showing focused on observation and discussion of student work in a safe and relaxed theater environment. Each College Partner is invited to select one student work to be shown during the Lab in Dance Theater Workshop’s Bessie Schönberg Theater. Following the performance, student choreographers take part in a brief post- performance discussion addressing the piece they presented as it relates to aesthetic and/or conceptual frameworks.

Senior Retreat

Seniors graduating from participating schools are invited to attend a retreat hosted at Dance Theater Workshop during the spring semester. This one-day intensive brings together students for peer networking and problem solving within a framework of presentations and workshops that address critical issues related to making the transition from academic to professional life.

Past retreat panelists include: Arthur Aviles, Marisa Beatty, Jonah Bokaer, Kim Brandt, Suzanne Callahan, Yanira Castro, Jennifer Wright Cook, Cathy Edwards, Sara Juli, Vallejo Gantner, Levi Gonzalez, Steve Gross, Miguel Gutierrez, Carolyn Hall, Larry Keigwin, Ana Keilson, Nicholas Leichter, Ralph Lewis, Christopher Morgan, Tara O’Con, Peggy Peloquin, Carla Peterson, Lisa Potter, Antonio Ramos, Jill Sigman, Megan Sprenger, David Thomson, Diane Vivona, Martin Wechsler, Marya Wethers, and Bob Yesselman.

Van Lier Fellowship

The Van Lier Fellowship is designed to provide emerging artists with access to a broad range of support systems upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Dance Theater Workshop selects two artists who have recently graduated from one of the schools participating in the College Partnership Program. In order to be considered for a Fellowship, candidates must be nominated by their faculty first and then invited by Dance Theater Workshop to apply. Each school can nominate up to two students for a Fellowship.

The Van Lier Fellowship is focused on creative development and includes a critical feedback component. Artists will receive 100 hours of rehearsal time at one of the Outer/Space Creative Residency studios in the outer-boroughs of New York City, in addition to a $1000 stipend. Throughout the fellowship, artists will meet with an advisor designated by Dance Theater Workshop. The advisors’ role is to consult with Fellows on their creative goals and vision, and provide constructive criticism on new material generated during the Fellowship.

The Fellows will have several opportunities to connect with other artists during the year through a series of dialogue sessions and professional development workshops. Each Fellow will receive a season pass to Dance Theater Workshop to attend performances throughout the year free of charge. Additionally, Fellows will receive a paid internship with the Artist Services department at Dance Theater Workshop as a means for developing administrative skills that will serve them throughout their career in the dance field.

Graduation Celebration

Graduating seniors are invited to attend a celebration reception prior to the opening night of a select performance at Dance Theater Workshop. This event will provide students with an opportunity to reconnect with their peers and Dance Theater Workshop staff prior to graduation. Panelists from the Senior Retreat will be on hand to revisit some of the issues that were covered during the seminars, and offer additional support and advice as the students move into their final weeks of college.