CUL·TI·VATE

A Trainee Program

CUL·TI·VATE, A Trainee Program: curated encounters (in and outside the dance studio) designed to support and strengthen the total dance artist, advancing their physical, emotional, and cognitive growth, agility, and acumen. Rooted in TU Dance’s vision of transformational communities, CUL·TI·VATE nurtures artistic excellence and the development of intellectual curiosities and moral character, finely tuned to ignite flourishing communities committed to shared humanity.  (Dr. Carol Marie Webster, PhD)

Inspired by the next generation of dance artists, CUL·TI·VATE is a program designed as a bridge for dancers with advanced training between their educational perspective and envisioning themselves in the professional field. Through classes, workshops, choreographic processes, mentorship, community engagement, teaching, performance and more, dancers will connect and share experiences as a collective as well as expressing and gaining momentum towards their individual interests and goals beyond their time in the program. CUL·TI·VATE will embrace and support each dancer while fostering their unique artistic path centered in TU Dance’s values of excellence, belonging, creativity and transformation.  

CUL·TI·VATE Focus

• Classes/Training: Continue to build on and strengthen foundations in technical practices to support the versatile dance artist of today. We believe in a multifaceted approach as well as the importance of rigor and preparing young dancers for a broad range of artistic opportunities. 
• Career-Oriented Workshops: Tools to equip the young professional dancer of today and provide a space to foster individual artistic interests and agency to be a part of the landscape of change within the future dance. The Fall portion of the program will include an opportunity for dancers to work on and build their personal resume and video reel in preparation for the audition experience. 
• Choreographic Processes: The opportunity to be immersed in artistic processes with renowned choreographers, professional dancers as well as students from the The School at TU Dance Center in the creation of new work.
• Mentoring (Spring): With the goal to further support each individual artist, dancers will be paired with a mentor with an expertise in their area of interest and work towards co-creating an artist statement to utilize for auditions, workshops, etc. Some mentoring hours may fall outside of the regularly scheduled program hours. 
• Community Engagement: Through TU Dance’s continued commitment to staying involved with the community and sharing the transformational power of dance, there will be opportunities to engage with our partner schools as well as other organizations within the Twin Cities. 
• Teaching: Each dancer will gain experience assisting with classes at The School at TU Dance Center. For those that feel particularly drawn to teaching, pedagogy and/or choreography, further opportunities within the school may also be discussed. 
• Performance: There will be 2-3 performance opportunities throughout the year.  
  • Winter Showcase: December 10 & 11, 2022
    • Alongside students from The School at TU Dance Center.
  • Three Women Project: Tentative dates: May 6 & 7, 2023
    • All trainees will attend the Three Women Project audition.
    • All trainees will be involved in the choreographic process.
    • Trainees might be selected by the choreographers in collaboration with TU Dance artistic director to perform in the Three Women Project.
  • Spring Student Showcase: Tentative dates: May 20 & 21, 2023
    • Alongside students from The School at TU Dance Center.

CUL·TI·VATE Details 

• Age range: 18-24 
• Audition Requirements
  • Strongly encouraged to attend the TU Dance Summer Intensive (Level 4 or 5), July 25-August 13, 2022. Enrollment for single weeks is available. Scholarships available!
  • If unable to attend the Summer Intensive, please email the following to laurel.keen@tudance.org by August 15, 2022. 
    • Resume and Cover Letter expressing your interest and goals for participating in CUL·TI·VATE. 
    • Performance Reel: 3 minutes max and may include studio or performance footage which clearly shows the individual instead of group work.
    • An in-person or virtual meeting may be scheduled as part of the audition process.
  • Dancers will receive notification of their acceptance into the CUL·TI·VATE program by August 29, 2022. 
• Yearly Schedule
  • CUL·TI·VATE is a one-year program with an option to return for a second year
  • Fall 2022: October 3- December 11, 2022
    • 9-week Fall session.
  • Spring 2023 Dates: February 13- May 21, 2023 
    • 12-week Spring session excluding Spring break.
    • 2-week unpaid Spring break (dates TBD depending on the Three Women Project).
• Daily Schedule
  • Monday-Friday 9:30am-4:15pm.
  • Schedule may include extended hours (evenings) and Saturdays. 
  • Tech Week hours may differ from the daily schedule noted above, and will be provided approximately one month in advance. Full availability is required during tech week. 
• Compensation
  • $450/week. Trainees will be compensated as employees.
• Location 
  • All classes, rehearsals and workshops will take place at TU Dance Center, or places determined by TU Dance.
  • Community engagement and performances may take place off-site 
• Housing and travel are not provided 

CUL·TI·VATE Interest/Questions: For any questions about the program, and to let us know if you are taking the TU Dance Summer Program as part of the audition, please email: laurel.keen@tudance.org.