About SEEDS
SEEDS is Agora Artists’ annual new works incubator designed to give Dallas dance makers the space, tools, and community to bring their ideas to life. Whether you’re emerging or established, SEEDS offers dedicated time, resources, and real-world experience to help you produce original choreography and navigate the business of being an artist.
Over four months, selected choreographers receive subsidized rehearsal space at Arts Mission Oak Cliff, professional mentorship, peer support, and a stipend to invest in their creative process. The experience culminates in a two-night, fully produced performance weekend, offering artists a platform to present their work, meet new audiences, and gain invaluable experience in producing and presenting dance at a professional level.
More than a program—it’s a community. SEEDS centers the artist’s growth and creative autonomy, fostering a supportive environment where risk-taking is encouraged, voices are amplified, and ideas are given the support to bloom.
Agora Artists believes that when artists are nurtured, the entire community flourishes—and SEEDS is where that growth begins.
SEEDS encompasses 5 main elements:
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Space Grant
Each choreographer receives up to 20 hours of subsidized rehearsal space, administered through Agora Artists’ partnership with the Arts Mission Oak Cliff. Choreographers will be charged $5/hour for space, one-third of AMOC’s rental rate and a significantly lower rate than many area dance studios.
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Professional Development & Mentorship
Participants receive advice from working professionals at each workshop and receive hands-on feedback on staging and directing, writing, costumes, lighting, organization, scheduling and finance. Once the rehearsal process starts, participants meet every other Sunday to brainstorm with peers and to share feedback on their works in-progress. Dancers are also invited to brainstorming sessions, enriching the conversation with multiple points of view.
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Production Budget
Each choreographer is allotted a modest budget to be used for personal remuneration, pay dancers/performers, purchase costumes, materials, props etc. Each choreographer will receive a project budget of $1,000 to subsidize their total budget. Detailed budgets will be discussed with the participants in the first workshop.
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Performance
Seeds culminates in a fully produced two-night performance in the Sanctuary at Arts Mission Oak Cliff complete with full dress rehearsal and tech.
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Network Building
The choreographers selected for Seeds are brought into the program as a group and are expected to support each other along this choreographic journey. They meet every other Sunday for workshops, check-ins, and feedback sessions. Additionally, Agora Artists invites local arts leaders to the concert in hopes choreographers may build relationships with local presenters and arts leaders for future professional opportunities.