This residency will occur from October 1, 2025 through April 5, 2026
with performances from April 3-5, 2026

Applications are now closed for 2025-26

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

WHY: Chapel Theatre Director, Corinn deTorres, is a lifelong dancer and co-founder of TriptheDark Dance Company. After opening Chapel Theatre in 2018 and leaving TriptheDark in 2022, Corinn wanted to find more ways to incorporate dance and dancers into the community at Chapel Theatre and to share the resources that the space has to offer. This organization is a fixture of the Milwaukie community, and while the residency is open to dancers outside of Milwaukie, one of the goals of this residency is to highlight dance within Milwaukie and Clackamas County. The performance element of this residency is open to anyone, but we will target the Milwaukie community to engage in the outcome of this program, just as we do for all of the performances that happen at Chapel Theatre.

WHO: This residency program is designed to support dancers and dance creators. Applicants may be new, emerging, established, or pivoting dancers or choreographers. There is no “ideal” demographic for this residency; we know dancers at all stages of their dance life can benefit from the dedicated time to work on their craft. 

PERFORMANCE: DATES: April 3-5, 2026. The expectation is for dancers to complete their residency with a performance produced by and at Chapel Theatre. Applicants must be individuals, though they may choose to include collaborators. The stipend does not change based on the amount of collaborators. Chapel Theatre will contract directly with the residency artist, who may choose to hire others or enlist volunteer dancers/artists/collaborators. 

We will select 3 residents to choreograph and produce pieces that may vary in length from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. They may be works-in-progress or fully developed performance pieces, however keep in mind that residency stipends do not increase for props, costumes, or sets. They will be showcased at the end of the residency in a 3-night, ticketed performance produced by Chapel Theatre. Production costs are covered by Chapel Theatre which include marketing, technical staff, technical equipment including sound and lights, ticketing, and the physical space itself. 

PAYMENT: Upon completion of the residency, each resident receives a $500 stipend, and will receive a 50% discounted rehearsal rate for post residency rehearsals for up to 5 years in either studio. If former residents book Chapel Theatre as a venue for future performances you will receive a 10% discount on the regular rates. 

HOW IT WORKS:

• Apply by July 15, 2025
• Each resident will have 2-3 opportunities to meet with the other residents to workshop their ideas, perform select pieces for one another, learn from one another, and support each other’s work. 
• Each resident receives up to 6 hours of rehearsal time per week. These will mostly be available between 8am and 4pm during the weekdays. Few exceptions can be made on a case by case basis.
• Some type of final product will be showcased the last weekend of the residency. This showcase will be a 3-night, ticketed performance, produced by Chapel Theatre. 
• Applicants will be notified by August 15, 2025 for a residency start date of October 1, 2025.
• NOTE: This residency does NOT include living space.

WHERE: Chapel Theatre is made up of two studios: Our annex space (4117 SE Harrison St Milwaukie OR) and our downstairs smaller studio (4107 SE Harrison St Milwaukie OR). Both studios have mirrors and barres. The annex has wood floors, the small studio has raised marley floors. The smaller studio is not ADA accessible. If your work includes special shoes, such as tap, you may need to use the downstairs marley floor rather than the annex studio. Again, this residency does NOT include living space.

ELIGIBILITY: 

• You are based in the Portland metropolitan area
• Your work is movement-based
• You are able to take advantage of the available rehearsal times and days throughout the residency (M-F, 8am-4pm)
• You will be in Portland for most of the residency period and available to perform at the end of the residency April 3-5, 2026
• Deadline to apply is July 15, 2025