DIS-TANZ-SOLO

Stipend programme for solo independent dancers

The DIS-TANZ-SOLO scholarship programme is aimed at independent dance professionals and promotes their own (artistic) work processes and projects. 
The aim is to make it possible to learn and try out new methods or theories and to support research and further training. In addition, the funds can be used to organise, document and archive one's own artistic work. Projects that readjust and reflect on one's own working methods, expand knowledge and formulate innovative ways of working can be funded.
The focus of the fifth round of calls for proposals is on transformation processes and is intended to support dance-makers in their research, further training and conceptualisation projects.

  • Information about application

    Information about application

    Who can apply?

    Solo self-employed dance professionals who live in Germany:  Choreographers, dancers, dramaturges, producers, curators, technicians, dance mediators, dance teachers, dance journalists and all those who are significantly involved in artistic and/or dance educational/dance mediating processes.

    What can be applied for? 

    The object of funding is the work of solo dance professionals on a project in which, for example, their own working methods are reflected upon, innovative fields are tried out and new methods or theories are learned. The project can also include the documentation and archiving (e.g. of props, stage sets, programme booklets, videos, etc.) of one's own work as well as the research of new content. The project should work out future-oriented and sustainable working methods for the dance scene.

    What cannot be applied for?
    Productions cannot be financed with the funds from the fifth round of calls for proposals. The focus of this call for proposals is on transformation processes and is intended to support dance-makers in their research, further education and conception projects. 

    How much funding can be applied for? 

    A total of min. 3,000€ and max. 12,500€ for min. 2 to max. 6 months. 

    How is the funding amount calculated?

    The monthly workload is calculated independently in the application: The basis for this is the lower fee limit of €2,490 per month recommended by the Federal Association for the Performing Arts. The work on the project is calculated according to time spent as follows:

    little (one day per week, 500€; minimum 6 months)
    partly (2 days per week, 1.000€, minimum 3 months) 
    more than half of your working time (3 days per week, 1.500€, minimum 2 months) 
    full time (5 days per week, 2.500€, minimum 5 months) 

    Is co-financing a prerequisite? 

    No co-funding is required for DIS-TANZ-SOLO, it is a full funding.

    When is the application deadline?

    The application deadline is 12 September 2022 (23:59 CET).

    In which period can the project be implemented? 

    From 01 January 2023 to 30 June 2023 (max. 6 months). 

    In which language will the application be submitted? 

    The application for DIS-TANZ-SOLO can be submitted in German or English. The application form is available in both languages. In addition, an application form in simple language is available here.

  • BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

    BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

    Here you will find all the information you need to prepare your application, which will be possible from 22 August 2022. 
    To prepare your application for DIS-TANZ-SOLO, you will need the following documents and papers:

    • Proof of residence in Germany:
      Please upload a scan of your identity card or passport (front and back). If the identity document does not show residence in Germany, please also attach a certificate of registration.
       
    • Description of your project:
      • The application includes both a
      • short description (500 characters) and a
      • detailed description (3000 characters) of the project, these are obligatory.
      • Optionally,you have the possibility to supplement your project description with a video in which you briefly introduce yourself and your proposed project. The video does not replace the project description, but merely offers another form of presentation of the project content if you feel uncertain about the written project description and serves to break down barriers.
        The video must not exceed a maximum length of 3 minutes. You can upload your video on the YouTube or Vimeo platforms. The video must be made private and protected with a password. Please enter the password in the online form when submitting your application. When using Vimeo, please note the setting "Rating for all audiences" so that access from outside can be guaranteed at any time even without a Vimeo account. Help with the settings can be found here.
         
    • Proof of personal professional activity in the dance field:
      Please upload your current CV / work biography as a PDF file (max. 1 DIN A4 page).
       
    • Proof of self-employment: 
      IMPORTANT: Please upload the most recent proof you have (not older than 2019). You can submit the following documents as proof:
    • a current KSK membership confirmation or
    • the most recent tax assessment notice (not older than 2019).
      • The tax assessment notice must clearly state that your income is entirely from self-employment or accounts for at least half of your total income.
      • Please clearly mark your name, the tax year and the relevant lines on income from self-employment or non-self-employment in the document so that your proof can be recognised.
         
    • If necessary, the documents can be supplemented with, for example, a trade licence (confirmation of continued validity via the tax office) or a confirmation of IHK membership. However, these supplements do not replace the above-mentioned proof.
       
    • Evidence of professional involvement in projects or productions in the field of dance in the last three years (from January 2019): 
      As evidence of your significant involvement in two to four artistic dance projects, dance productions or dance education projects, you can use, for example, scans of programmes, press releases, newspaper articles or websites.
      Journalists should provide evidence of their professional activity in the form of at least 4 newspaper or magazine articles (announcements, reviews, professional articles).

      Please clearly mark your name and the date of the event / project / publication in the uploaded document so that your evidence can be recognised.
      Written confirmations from production venues, artistic directors as well as dance educational institutions or dance schools are also possible as proof.
       
    • For further questions, please see the FAQs
    • Notes with review of the first three application rounds

      Notes with review of the first three application rounds

      Notes with a review of previous rounds of calls for proposals:

      Looking back at the jury discussions in the prevoius rounds of the call for proposals, we would like to give you a few hints on how to describe your project:

      • The short description contains the objectives and the most important aspects of the project (topics or methods, starting point, goal) in brief keywords.
      • The detailed description should then provide an insight into your current biographical and artistic position as well as your concrete project.
      • The funding is designed to ensure that the focus of the project is on your own work and that your own working time is funded with a monthly amount. It is possible to involve other dance professionals / experts in the project. This collaboration can be included in the project description, as can the description of fair and appropriate remuneration for the artists and experts involved.

      The following questions can help you in the conception of your project description. Depending on the focus of the project, different questions are relevant:

      • What is your current situation (biographical, artistic)?
      • What is the reasoning behind the decision for your project?
      • Why did you decide on the topic or working method (artistic method, research, archiving, etc.)?
      • How is the subject/the working method connected to your (artistic) practice?
      • At what stage of development is your project?
      • What development should the project go through during the funding period? (Prototype, implementation, reflection/finalisation)
      • What experience can you draw on in this field/way of working, or with which experts do you work?
      • If you are working with other people, how are they involved? To what extent will the project provide you with a better working basis in the future?
      • What relevance and sustainability does your project have for your own artistic work?
      • What added value could your project create for the dance scene? 

    Further questions?