Phoenix Dance Theatre is hosting its second Choreographers and Composers Lab between Tuesday 2 July – Saturday 13 July 2019 at its studios in Leeds, thanks to funding from the Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Leeds Dance Partnership.

Applications have opened for the two-week intensive led by choreographer and Artistic Director Sharon Watson – providing the opportunity for the next generation of artists to work collaboratively, innovate, and develop new ways of working in music and dance.

“Many artists value the opportunity to challenge their working methods, but rarely get the chance to do so due to the focus on a final product” says Sharon Watson. “The Lab provides a platform for choreographers and composers to deepen their connection to their own art form and to each other’s.”

The Choreographers and Composers Lab will bring together four choreographers and four composers at a pivotal point in their careers, to participate in an immersive two-week programme. The participating artists will work with 12 professional dancers and four musicians, who will bring their artistic explorations to life, as well as have guest lectures and workshops with industry professionals while being mentored by Watson and a Musical Director that is yet to be announced. The first CC Lab Musical Director was internationally recognised composer, Kenneth Hesketh.

Phoenix’s first Choreographers and Composers Lab was successfully held in July 2015 with some notable outcomes, including a commission for choreographer Sandrine Monin and composer Roberto Rusconi to collaborate on their first professional dance work and score, Calyx, which was named ‘Best Premiere 2017’ by Dance Europe.

Week one: Tuesday 2 July – Saturday 6 July 2019

Week two: Tuesday 9 July – Saturday 13 July 2019 

Deadline for applications: Friday 11 January 2019

Two follow up creative sandpits for the choreographers and composers only, will be held in Autumn 2019 and February 2020. Exact dates to be announced.

Applications have now closed for the 2019 CC Lab.