Today I want to highlight a wonderful program going on through the Luna Dance Institute in Berkeley. (The text for this post is respectfully pulled from Luna's website.)

Luna Dance Institute biannually hosts CHOREOFUND, a grassroots opportunity for the community to support homegrown dance-making. CHOREOFUND 5 happens November 5th, 2015, 7-9pm at Luna's Aquatic Park Studio.

Photo of LV Dance Collective at CHOREOFUND 2

CHOREOFUND is a game of chance! The first 6 eligible choreographers who apply will be invited to throw their hats into the ring for a chance to win up to $1200 in cash and 12 hours of studio time to support their next project. The runner-up receives 6 hours of studio time for their next project. All CHOREOFUND artists have the opportunity to entice a brand new audience to come to their shows, share a drink with potential new fans, and are promoted through social media and press releases by Luna.

Here’s how it works:

30 community members contribute $40 cash each to witness 6 different choreographers give short pitches and perform excerpts of their work. The audience gets to see a variety of styles and ideas at all stages of completion and witness the creative process in most immediate form. At the end of the night, each person votes on who takes home the entire $1200.

Why we do it:

The central tenet of Luna’s mission and philosophy is to nurture the choreographer in every child. Our studio program syllabus guides students through a progression to learn to explore, improvise, compose, shape and craft solo and group works at a level that is often not experienced until graduate school. CHOREOFUND is a bridge between Luna’s composition-based curriculum and the talent of local choreographers.

How to participate:

Join us in the fun at our next CHOREOFUND 5 event, Thursday, November 5th, 2015 as an artist or audience member.

Audience members please RSVP to Patricia, preedy@lunadanceinstitute.org. Plan on bringing $40 cash for your contribution to the pot.

Applications for choreographers will be available October 2nd and can be submitted until October 16th, 11:59pm. Contact Jochelle at jperena@lunadanceinstitute.org for the application.

CHOREFUND 4 Winner:

Wax Poet(s)/Heather Stockton– Heather Stockton is a dance, video and sound artist who created Wax Poet(s) with hopes of cultivating an interdisciplinary community. Originally from Riverside, CA, Heather has danced in works by Amy O’Neal/Tiny Rage, Katie Faulkner, Sheldon Smith, Shinichi Iova-Koga, Merce Cunningham (staged by Holley Farmer), Laara Garcia (Psuedopod Interactive), Wade Madsen, Mark Haines, Yoshi Wright, Kristin Carpenter Torok and Nataly Morales. Her choreography has been presented at Noh Space (SF), The Garage (SF), On the Boards theater (SEA), Velocity Dance Center (SEA), Littlefield Concert Hall (OAK), Temescal Arts Center (OAK) and Landis Performing Arts Center (RIV) as well as  the dance films Everything You’re Feeling is Okay, UnderCutThumb &Throat, Self Broadcasting, Blustery and For a Time Feeler.

CHOREOFUND 4 Runner-up:

LV Dance Collective is a Contemporary Fusion Bay Area based performance company, under the Artistic Direction of founders/choreographers Kao Vey Saephanh and Martha L. Zepeda. LVDC uses movement to inspire, to communicate, to overcome, and to educate. While focusing on creating works LVDC strives in the health of the mind, body, and soul through various creative initiatives including movement exploration, workshops, classes, and collaboration. Through movement one can do anything.

Past CHOREOFUND winners include Nol Simonse (CHOREOFUND 1, 2013), Jessi Barber (CHOREOFUND 2, 2014), Randee Paufve (CHOREOFUND 3, 2014).

 

Find out more about the Luna Dance Institute and all of its programs at http://lunadanceinstitute.org/.

————————-