Choreographer Residency Program at BlackBox Studios

2022 Resident Choreographers:

Anna Gichan

Anna Gichan is a deaf/hoh freelance dancer. She received her B.F.A in Dance from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, completing a year abroad at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Israel where she immersed herself in the gaga movement language. Anna has performed at Park Ave Armory, The Cooper Hewitt Museum, Dixon Place, Judson Memorial Church, Loews Jersey Theater, Newburgh Illuminated Dance Festival, Triskelion Arts, Roulette, Yi Gallery and more. Her work has been presented at CultureHub LaMaMa, Gibney, The Tank, Flux Factory and supported by the Brooklyn Arts Exchange Disabled Artist Space Grant and CDI Brooklyn College. Anna currently is an admin assistant for Dancers Group based out of San Francisco.

Miche Wong

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Miche Wong is a dancer, educator, and choreographer. Seasoned in that order, it has led her to join Guangdong Modern Dance Company, Garret +Moulton Productions, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, Ziru Dance, and most recently, ODC. She brings her well-rounded experience in the field to the classes and workshops she teaches throughout California and abroad. Miche’s choreographic work has been shown in the Beijing International Dance Festival,  Silicon Valley Dance Festival,  at the Asian Art Museum, Dance Mission Theater, and Cowell Theater. Follow her on Instagram @miche_moves

  • With the support from the City of Oakland's Neighborhood Voices grant program, Ballet22 is hosting two choreographer residencies at BlackBox Studios in Oakland.

    Each choreographer will be awarded 25 hours of studio time at BlackBox Studios (April 18, 2022-June 19, 2022) and a budget of $1,250 to support their vision. At the end of their residency choreographers will be given time to present their work in process to the public at BlackBox Studios.

    The residency is intended to offer an opportunity to Oakland based choreographers who are underrepresented in the dance field, prioritizing: womxn, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. We seek artists that have a clear proposal of work or artist statement. We wish to give artists space to choreograph work that is a true reflection of the vision they wish to express.

    The goal of the residency is to contribute to the critical efforts to diversify concert dance by providing an opportunity for Oakland artists to access studio space and funds to create, and to provide the community with accessible engagement with concert dance.

    The City of Oakland's Neighborhood Voices grant program aims to promote cultural equity, belonging, and well-being to the communities that make Oakland unique, vibrant, and resilient.

    Applicants must be 18 years or older, and residents of Oakland.

    Panelists of the Residency Program are:

    Roberto Vega Ortiz, Ballet22 Artistic Director & Co-Founder

    Theresa Knudson, Ballet22 Executive Director & Co-Founder

    Joanne Kim, Ballet22 Board Secretary & Company Manager

    Durante Verzola, Ballet22 Choreographer

  • Call for Oakland based choreographers!

    25 hours of studio time, public studio showcase, and $1,250 to support choreographer

    2 residencies will be awarded

    April 19, 2022-June 19, 2022

    BlackBox Studios 3498 School St., Oakland, CA 94602

  • To apply please email:

    info@ballet22.com

    Deadline: April 17, 2022

    Email Subject line:

    Oakland Choreographer Residency: FIRST NAME LAST NAME (pronouns)

    Please email the following:

    1. CV, headshot, bio

    2. Artist statement

    3. Work sample(s)

    4. Contact information: email, phone, address (must be Oakland resident)

    5. Questionnaire:

    • Please provide a proposal of work/ goal for the residency program

    • Please share the biggest challenge you are facing as a choreographer (funding, studio space, mentorship, creative rut, etc.)

    • Proposed budget: Please provide your proposed budget of where awarded funds will be used: paying yourself, dancers, collaborating musical artist etc. (No wrong answers/your answer does not impact decision making. We want to know folk's needs so we can improve the residency.)

    • Preferred dates/times for 25 hours of studio space (please give options)

    • Idea/goal for studio showcase (ex: In addition to performing/demonstrating work you can do: a moderated Q&A, feedback session, open rehearsal, workshop/class for public before the performance, etc.)

    • Please indicate/list any demographic information that you feel is important to include (race/ethnicity, gender identity, LGBTQIA+, disability, age, immigrant, first generation, etc)

Choreographer Residency Program is made possible by support from the City of Oakland and the Neighborhood Voices grant program!