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NEFA recognizes that our current social climate continues to impact the ways that artists create and intend to share their work. We value your creative ingenuity during this time and the artistic experiences you still desire to share with communities and audiences, whether in-person, virtually, or some imaginative combination of both.
NDP is committed to disrupting the perpetual exclusion and erasure of artists representing forms, genres, practices, traditions, lineages, experiences, and/or identities through their projects. We value how artists are choosing to advance, enhance, or subvert various forms of dance, contributing to the ever-evolving landscape.
As you complete your NDP proposal, we encourage you to answer all questions to the best of your knowledge, including sharing aspects of your project and subsequent touring that are still in ideation. In addition to the narrative questions below, the NDP Production Inquiry application will require details on the applicant, the proposed new dance project, the organizational partner(s), and up to three minutes of a video work sample. We invite you to lean on the NDP team as a resource as you prepare to submit your preliminary application.
- In addition to responding to narrative questions, below, as part of your preliminary application submission you will be required to provide a four (4) minute work sample. This can include up to two selections of at least one minute in length but should not be a promotional video. NDP staff can provide guidance on this.
- Work sample submissions cannot exceed four (4) minutes. Submissions over four (4) will be watched to the four (4) minute mark, and not longer.
- We will only accept work samples via the following platforms with downloadable capabilities: Dropbox, Google Drive, Vimeo, and YouTube. We DO NOT accept work samples via social media platforms.
2025 NDP Production Grant Narrative Questions & Criteria
| NDP Production Narrative Questions | Narrative questions related to the following Criterion |
| 1. Please describe the proposed new dance project. (3,000-character limit) | Support new dance projects within a range of cultural and aesthetic diversities that bolster today’s dance field. Support the creation/development of new dance projects that demonstrate excellence in artists’ practice. |
2. What does success mean to you in respect to the proposed new dance project? What is your overall desired impact for the project? (1,500-character limit) | Support new dance projects within a range of cultural and aesthetic diversities that bolster today’s dance field. Support the creation/development of new dance projects that demonstrate excellence in artists’ practice. |
3. Describe the creative process/practice for the proposed new dance project, inclusive of form(s)/genre(s)/aesthetic(s). For collaborative models of making, include why the collaborator(s) contributions are integral to the realization of the proposed new dance project. How does this creative process/practice support accomplishing the project’s desired success and impact as defined above? (2,000-character limit) | Support new dance projects within a range of cultural and aesthetic diversities that bolster today’s dance field. Support the creation/development of new dance projects that demonstrate excellence in artists’ practice. |
4. Name all the organizational partners and describe their contributions to the proposed new dance project (minimum (2) two). This can be in relationship to the research, creation, engagement aspects of the proposed new dance project. How do these partnerships support achieving your project’s desired success and impact? Learn more about organizational partnerships. ( 2,500-character limit) | Reflect partnerships with organizations that are essential to the realization of the proposed new dance project. Applications must include at least two (2) U.S.* based organizational partners. |
| 5. Who are the communities and audiences this proposed new dance project is intended for? (1,000-character limit) | Demonstrate a commitment to an accessible engagement process with/for communities and audiences because of the new dance project’s relevance, originality, and/or timeliness. |
| 6. Describe your plan/process for connecting with communities and audiences. How will access/accessibility be addressed in the proposed new dance project. (1,500-character limit) | Demonstrate a commitment to an accessible engagement process with/for communities and audiences because of the new dance project’s relevance, originality, and/or timeliness. |
7. What is your strategy for touring/sharing your proposed new dance project? How will you consider factors related to scale such as geography, site/venue types, length of engagements, virtual opportunities, company size, audience size, production elements, touring team, etc.? Learn more about touring partners. (2,500-character limit) | Support new dance projects that will tour/be shared in multiple communities in the U.S. and its territories. Applications must include at least two (2) U.S. based touring partners. |
| 8. Please share the FULL chronological timeline for the proposed new dance project. This should highlight include key timeframes related to research, creation/development, residency and engagement opportunities, production and design elements, projected premiere date or window, and desired touring/sharing activities. (2,000-character limit) | All NDP Production Grant Criteria |
| 9. In addition to the performers and collaborators, how does this project contribute to the diversities of today’s dance field? (1,500-character limit) | Support new dance projects within a range of cultural and aesthetic diversities that bolster today’s dance field. |
*NEFA defines U.S. as all 50 of the United States including Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington, D.C., as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
NEFA understands that there are more opportunities and interest in artists/companies to share their work virtually, reaching a global audience. While we support the many ways artists/companies have been able to expand their reach, it is important to note that NDP tour subsidy can only be allocated to U.S. based organizations.