Image above: The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave by Oli Mathiesen NZ, W.S. Residency alumni, for Performance Space’s Liveworks Festival 2025, at Carriageworks. Image by Lucy Parakhina

Wellesley Studios (Auckland) and Dancehouse (Melbourne) are thrilled to announce a new  Residency fostering exchange and collaboration between independent dance artists in Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia between 2025 and 2027.

Annually, each organisation will host an international artist from the other country for a 2-week residency. Dancehouse will host an artists from New Zealand, and Wellesley Studios will host an artist from Australia. 

The New Zealand artist is offered:
 

• Up to 2-weeks of studio space at the Dancehouse host venue;
• 2-weeks stipend of NZD $1,400 per week;
• 2-weeks of per diems @ NZD $500 per week;
• NZD $700 contribution to flights;
• NZD $250 for airport transfers;
• NZD $2,000 accommodation allowance.
   

The Australian artist is offered:
 

• Up to 2-weeks of studio space at the Wellesley Studios host venue;
• 2-weeks stipend of AUD $1,300 p/w;
•  2-weeks of per diems AUD $467.22 p/w;
• 1 x return international flight between Auckland and Melbourne;
• Accommodation for 2-weeks when on residence;
• Free attendance at Independance classes;
• Airport transfers.
   

The timing of the residency is proposed by the artist based on availability.
 

In addition to the active studio-based full-time residency, artists are welcome to leverage residency opportunities with local engagements, activities, projects, presentations, collaborations or opportunities in each city.

The successful artists will be required to offer a workshop, masterclass or exchange opportunity for local artists as part of their residency, and to offer a sharing or showing at the end of the residency to invited guests.
 

Expressions of Interest are now open and close 11.59pm Sunday, March 9, 2025. 
 

For more information about eligibility requirements, application details, and specific residency information, visit the residency page on our website: [https://wellesleystudios.co.nz/residencies/].

ABOUT THE PARTNERS
 

Dancehouse (Naarm / Melbourne) is Australia’s only presenting and producing house dedicated solely to the year-round presentation of dance by and with independent dance artists and communities. Dancehouse represents a diversity of visions, practices, and generations committed to the expression, development and celebration of dance artists, and the artform itself.

Wellesley Studios Dance House (Tāmaki Makaurau /Auckland)  is a purpose-built facility supporting the creativity and growth of Aotearoa’s dance and performing arts community. Located in the heart of Auckland’s theatre district, Wellesley Studios is a hub for connection and innovation, providing an inclusive environment where artists can train, collaborate and push boundaries.
 

ELIGIBILITY NOTES

• The opportunity is open to practicing independent choreographers with a strong track-record of dance projects and works.
• All dance artists, forms, and practices are welcome.
• This opportunity is available for both Australian and New Zealand residents. Artists must be resident in their “home” country for at least 1 year before applying for the respective international residency.
• Multiple artists may apply for the residencies but there is only financial provision for ONE artist per residency — please outline how you will support, share, or leverage other resources or opportunities to make the residency viable.
• Please note that there is no provision for additional travel i.e. domestic/ internal flights for artists outside of Auckland and Melbourne.
• The residency must be fully undertaken in the 2025 calendar year.
• Local collaboration or engagement with artists, communities and/ or audiences when on residence is encouraged.
• Artists are welcome to leverage the residency opportunity i.e. by building the residency into an existing tour or project, presentation opportunity, or timing the residency with local events, festivals or contexts.
• Residencies are not necessarily project or outcomes focused but artists with a clear rationale, purpose, and approach to local collaboration, engagement, leverage or opportunity around their residency will be prioritised.
• Residencies for 2025 will likely happen from April onwards. Applications for the 2026 residencies will be decided in late 2025 to ensure artists can take full advantage of the 2026 calendar year.
   

SELECTION PROCESS
 

The partners: Dancehouse and Wellesley Studios, will both review and appraise applications with the advice of 1-2 independent Australian and New Zealand artistic advisors.
 

The application form and process is the same for both New Zealand artists applying for the Dancehouse residency, and Australian artists applying for the Wellesley Studios residency.
 

Applicants may be invited to a short online zoom/ phone conversation for the partners to hear more about the proposal, and to discuss pertinent availability and logistics before a decision is reached.
 

The invited Residencies will go to the artists who best evidence:
 

• A generous, collaborative, and exciting choreographic practice and project;
• A specific, timely, and exciting residency proposal;
• An exciting potential opportunity for them and the local artists, communities, and/ or audiences; and
• Be viable with strong potential to further networks, connections, collaborations and exchange between Australia and New Zealand in the future.
  
   

KEY DATES
 

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST OPEN / Monday 10 February 2025
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CLOSE / 11.59 pm (Melbourne time) Sunday 9 March 2025
OUTCOMES ADVISED BY / 1 April 2025
RESIDENCIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN / Throughout 2025

 

The Trans-Tasman Dance Exchange Residency is made possible by funding from Creative New Zealand, Dancehouse Melbourne and Wellesley Studios.

QUESTIONS?

Josh Wright, CEO/ Artistic Director, Dancehouse
director@dancehouse.com.au           +61 3 9347 2860

Shona McCullagh, Creative Producer – Residencies, Wellesley Studios
shona@humangarden.co.nz             + 64 27 277 9326