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DANCE FELLOWSHIP 

More than a program—

it’s a life~changing launchpad.​​

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IMPORTANT DATES:

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All Dance Fellows participate on FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS, generously sponsored by patrons of Carmel Dance Festival.

Each scholarship—valued at $1,200—covers:

  • Full tuition for classes and work sessions

  • Use of rehearsal and performance facilities

  • High-quality video documentation and editing of their new work (ideal for reels and submissions)

  • Production support including costumes, lighting, and technical crew

 

Why it's life-changing:
Dance Fellows don't just gain a credit on their resume—they leave with:​

  • Mentorship from respected leaders Lillian Barbeito and Sidra Bell

  • First-hand insight into the full creation-to-performance pipeline, including collaboration, tech, and audience engagement

  • An expanded artistic voice developed through hands-on experimentation and feedback

  • A powerful professional network of 19 like-minded emerging artists

  • Exposure to presenters, company directors, and guest artists who can impact their careers

  • Confidence, clarity, and the real-world knowledge needed to navigate the contemporary dance landscape

  • A professionally filmed piece of original choreography they helped co-create

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Several past Fellows have gone on to be hired by Ballare Carmel and The Foundry, and many return to their communities with renewed purpose, vision, and tangible next steps.

"I haven't been a part of a workshop that was so closely focused on creation. It was a taste of company work. Also, this community was much more supportive and warm than others. I felt that I could walk into the space feeling accepted, acknowledged, and wanting to do the same for everyone else. Removing electronics from the space was a definite catalyst for all the genuine connections we were all able to make."    ~ Cardin Chung, Dance Major at USC Glorya Kaufman School of   Dance

IMPORTANT DATES:

September 1 ~ applications open (dancers selected on rolling basis)

October 19 ~ priority review of dancer applications

November 2 ~ dancers applications DEADLINE

November Newsletter ~ Dance Fellows publicly announced

December 27 ~ checkin & orientation

January 3 ~ Performance at Hidden Valley Music Seminars

January 4 ~ Bonus performance with LIVE MUSIC at Sand Box

January 5 ~ Check out in am (OK to depart in pm on Sunday!)

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ELIGIBILITY

  • Age 16+ (fellows aged 16 & 17 will be chaperoned and must have a legal guardian sign a waiver)

  • Superb technique in any dance genre

  • Partnering experience and/or desire and commitment to enhance partnering skills

  • Improvisation experience and/or desire and commitment to enhance improvisation skills

  • Performance experience and/or desire and commitment to enhance performance skills

  • Desire to adapt, create, connect, and contribute

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APPLY!

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STEP ONE: ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

To apply, please complete our ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.

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The form includes detailed instructions on all required supporting materials, including:​

  • Resume

  • Biography

  • Headshot(s) with photo credit

  • Dance Shot(s) with photo credit

  • Video Statement

  • Dance Videos 

  • Letter of Recommendation

    • Ideally, you’ll submit a letter from someone who specifically endorses you for the Carmel Dance Festival’s Fellowship Program. This is our preference because letters written for CDF show that your recommender understands our mission and values, highlight how you would contribute to our collaborative environment, and—since we’re a nonprofit—help spread awareness of CDF within the wider dance community.

    • That said, we’re happy to accept an existing or previous letter of endorsement, and your application will still be considered complete even if the letter isn’t tailored to CDF. Submitting a CDF-specific letter is simply the strongest option.

 

STEP TWO: APPLICATION FEE
Your application will be reviewed only after we confirm receipt of the $50 application fee.
Payment instructions (via Venmo, PayPal, & Check) are clearly provided on the onling application form.

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DEADLINE​: Sunday, November 2nd  at 5:00 pm Pacific Time

Applications for the 4th Annual Dance Fellowship will be reviewed on a rolling basis from Monday, September 1st through Sunday, November 2nd at 5:00 pm Pacific Time. We encourage interested dancers to submit their applications by priority review on October 19th for the best consideration. Our selection process will begin on September 1st, and up to 20 exceptional dancers will be chosen for this prestigious fellowship program. Apply today!

 

SAMPLE SCHEDULE: (listed in Pacific Time and subject to change) 

Saturday, December 27th

          2:00-4:00 Check-in

          4:00-5:25 Yoga & Soundbath

          5:30-6:30 Welcome Dinner

          6:30-8:00 Orientation

Sunday, December 28th 

          8:00 Breakfast

          9:00-12:30 Technique & Rehearsal with Ballare Carmel

          12:30-1:30  Lunch

          1:30-5:15  Three 75-minute  sessions with Choreography Fellows

          5:30-6:30 Dinner 

          6:30-8:30 Free Time

Monday, December 29th ~ Friday, January 2nd

          8:00 Breakfast

          9:00-10:25  Technique 

          10:30-12:25 Rehearsal #1

          12:30-1:30 Lunch

          1:30-5:25  Rehearsals #2 & #3

          5:30-6:30 Dinner

          6:30-8:00 Evening  Seminar/Rehearsal/Fittings or Photos

          8:00-9:30 Tech Wed~Fri 

Saturday, January 3rd

        8:00-9:00 Breakfast

          9:30-11 Community Class with Choreography Mentor

          11-12:30 Tech Rehearsal

          12:30-1:30 Lunch

          1:30-3:30 Tech Continured

          3:30-5:30 Dress Rehearsal Notes

          5:30-6:30 Closing Night Dinner 

          6:45 House Opens

          7:00 SHOWCASE

          8:30 Reception 

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OPTIONAL/BONUS PERFORMANCE WITH LIVE MUSIC

Sunday, January 4th 

          10:30-12:00 spacing at Sandbox

          12-12:30 break

          12:30-2:00 Rehearsal with musicians

          2:00-3:00 Get ready (hair/makeup/steam costumes)

          3:00 Matinee

          6:00 Return travel (or can depart Monday am)

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"The Fellowship was so communal and supportive. In almost every other program I’ve attended, the instructors and choreographers come in to do their jobs and leave, and there are already so many established relationships between many of the dancers, there doesn’t seem to be room or desire for anyone new. Being an introvert, I often feel the need to keep to myself. I have never engaged naturally with so many people- it felt like a lifetime of friendships built within seven days. The support came from every corner of the room- whether it was from fellow dancers observing or conversing, choreographers directing and listening, Lillian watching and working quietly to make every dream a reality… there was never a moment where I felt isolated, unseen or not valued."

~ Ariel Clarke, Ballare Carmel dancer, teacher, & choreographer

Please note that the fellowship does not include financial aid for travel or Room & Board. Dance Fellows are responsible for transportation to Hidden Valley Music Seminars, accommodations, and 3 meals per day. Further details regarding meals and housing are provided on the Fellowship landing page.

 

ADDITIONAL TESTIMONIALS

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"I 100% got what I came for! I was looking to connect further with the dance community and improve my skills in working in process with other artists. I feel that I have made lasting connections and grew a lot as a dancer through this program. I ended each day feeling so inspired with my mind fizzing with creativity that I hope to continue carrying with me throughout the year."

~ Jessica Hovermale, Dance Major at University of Oregon

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"This week was rejuvenating and inspiring. It was refreshing to take a break from my regular dance community and create a new one with other artists. I think the structure of the week created many opportunities to share and create and support one another, and the choice to exclude phones from shared spaces was a catalyst for people actually engaging in conversation and taking in what was going on around them. Thank you all for your efforts to create spaces that were safe, open, and engaging. I imagine I will still be processing experiences and new thoughts from this week for quite a while and I will definitely be taking things I learned about myself and dance into my dance community at home."   

~ Katie Marshall, Dance Major at CSLB

 

"My week in Carmel reinvigorated my inspiration for art and dance and began my year the best way possible."   

~ Isabella Soo Hoo, Dance Major at Boston Conservatory

 

 "This was different from other intensives that I've been to because there was such an emphasis on community that was a breath of fresh air. I was also able to step out of my comfort zone and make major artistic breakthroughs in only a week. It was also more challenging in ways that I wasn't expecting, but I learned so much about myself that I couldn't have learned anywhere else."   

~ Gabija Vabalaite, Dance Major at UCI

 

"Alex Ketley taught a class called Hot Mess in and in that class you had to let everything go and not overthink the tasks that were asked of you and this idea of just going for it is something I hope to bring back with me in my future dance endeavors," 

~ Genevieve Antonetty, Dance Major at NYU

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