The Journey Project for Dance/Wendy Ann Powell
Photography by Steven Pisano

APPLY TODAY!

ABOUT WESTFEST 2024:

This year's live WestFest Dance Festival will present the works of emerging and established movement artists through two distinct programs:

WestFest: Top Floor presents two programs of visionary artists in a traditional theater setting at the Martha Graham Studio Theater located on the 11th Floor of the Westbeth Artists' Residence. Each artist will have the opportunity to show a new work or revision of a recent piece (8 minute max) in two nights of shared performance: Program A on Thurs and Sat, April 25 and 27, or Program B on Fri and Sun, April 26 and 28.

WestFest: All Over Westbeth is a site-specific program showing a variety of unconventional and unique approaches to dance and space within the historic Westbeth Artists' Residence buildings. Each artist will be assigned a unique space in and around the Westbeth building in which they will have the opportunity to rehearse and build a dance. We ask that artists create a 4-5 minute piece that can be performed multiple times for groups of audiences touring the sites.

FESTIVAL TIMELINE:

ALL OVER WESTBETH

FREE ON-SITE REHEARSAL SPACE:

Sat February 10, 1-4 PM
Sat March 9, 1-4 PM
Sat April 6, 1-4 PM

TECH REHEARSAL:

Sat, April 20, 1-6 PM

PERFORMANCE DATES:

April 27th & 28th: Live performances scheduled from 1-4 PM

APPLICATION INFO:

To apply, complete the application for the program in which you wish to participate: Top Floor or All Over Westbeth. Artists are warmly welcome to apply for both programs!

The curation panel will be looking for a diverse group of emerging & mid-career dance artists with a strong vision and high-performance quality. Strong preference will be given to artists based in the New York metropolitan area.

SELECTED ARTISTS FOR BOTH TOP FLOOR & ALL OVER WILL RECEIVE:

The opportunity to show new or revised work in a theater or site-specific setting
FREE production costs
Publicity and digital marketing materials for the event
Professionally captured and edited photos
Performance video

SUBMISSION SCHEDULE/FEE:

Early Bird Application Fee: $25 | Submit by December 15th at 11:59 PM ET

Regular Application Fee: $35 | Submit by December 31st at 11:59 PM ET

To submit your application fee, click HERE.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance via email no later than January 25th.

Questions? Email us at info@westfestdance.com

TECH REHEARSAL:

Mon, Tues & Wed April 22-24; 20 min slot assigned between 5-9 PM

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Program A: Thurs & Sat, April 25 & 27, 7:00 PM
Program B: Fri & Sun, April 26 & 28, 7:00 PM

TOP FLOOR

Peter Cheng

Top Floor Guest Curator

PETER CHENG is a Taiwanese-American dancer, choreographer, and art model who hails from San Francisco, CA. Holding a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of California at Santa Barbara, his early training began under the direction of Christopher Pilafian (Jennifer Muller/The Works), Nancy Colahan (Lar Lubovitch Dance Company), Tonia Shimin (Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble).

Peter continued on to pursue professional training with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, ODC/Dance, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Post:Ballet, Sidra Bell Dance NY, Visceral Dance Chicago and attended intensives at Springboard Danse Montréal, Northwest Dance Project, YYDC, and NVA & Guests.

He currently freelances in New York City and has performed with konverjdans, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, LaneCoArts, Project44 Dance, and CreArtBox, amongst others.

Jamal Jackson

Top Floor Guest Curator

JAMAL JACKSON was born in Brooklyn, New York and began his formal studies of movement with the Harlem based Batoto Yetu Dance Company. His pursuit of dance led him to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he received the Weston Award for his contribution to the Fusion Dance Company and New Works/ World Traditions African Dance Company from 1996-2000. Jamal studied with Michelle Bach-Coulibaly, Seydou Coulibaly, and Fred Benjamin and worked under M’ba Coulibaly, Salimata Soumare from Kelete Dance Theatre, and Ba Issa Diallo, director of Troupe District du Bamako in Mali, West Africa. Jamal choreographed for the New York Arts Festival and Inaya Day in 2002, marking the beginning of his African based, modern technique. Jamal performed with Ballet International Africans for two seasons as a principal dancer and in 2004 he founded the Jamal Jackson Dance Company. The company’s work has been presented at venues including: Mark Morris Dance Center, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, NYC Summerstage Concert Series, Dance Now Festival, Triskelion Arts, Battery Downtown Dance Festival, Brown University, the Brooklyn Museum, Equality Now’s 20th Anniversary, Big Range Festival in Austin, TX, The Yard in Martha’s Vineyard, MA, Performance Spaces for the 21st Century in Chatham, NY, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Pitt., GSUSA National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, Abundance Festival in Karlstad, Sweden, 92nd street Y, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Ellie Kusner

Top Floor Guest Curator

ELLIE KUSNER is a teacher, Bessie Award-winning performer, and a passionate advocate for dancer health and wellbeing.

She began performing as a student of The Boston Ballet School, where she danced with the company in many large-scale productions. Realizing that a career in pointe shoes was not her destiny, Ellie went on to earn her BA from Barnard College before embarking on a freelance dance career, working with numerous choreographers including Mark Morris, Pam Tanowitz, Ellen Cornfield, Nilas Martins, and Patricia Hoffbauer, in venues ranging from warehouse rooftops to The Metropolitan Opera.

Ellie is a faculty member of the Dance Department at The Juilliard School. She holds an MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban, London, UK and enjoys exploring and implementing evidence-based teaching practices to enhance the learning, health, and performance of dancers. She has also taught at Hofstra University, American Ballet Theater’s JKO School, Boston Ballet, Barnard College, Slippery Rock University, Mark Morris Dance Center, Gallim, and Trinity Laban.

Ellie is a member of the Dance Educators’ Committee of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. She is the co-founder of DanceWell Podcast, an acclaimed resource dedicated to exploring 360 degrees of health and wellness for dancers. She has contributed articles to Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher and Pointe.

Ashley McQueen

All Over Guest Curator

Ashley McQueen, Founder/Artistic Director of Smashworks Dance, is a New York City-based performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. She holds a BFA in Dance from Webster University and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University. She directs Smashworks Dance, a non-profit dance company advocating for women’s empowerment through performance and education outreach. She previously taught as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Manhattanville College, and her collaboration credits include partnering with Rebel Girls Productions to write movement activities for their chapter book, “Alicia Alonso Takes The Stage.” Recently, she was promoted to Assistant to the Artistic Director and Studio Manager for Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre, in addition to performing as a Company Artist.