What is a dance residency?
A dance residency is a program that gives dance artists focused time and space to develop their work away from everyday distractions. In a residency, a choreographer or dancer is usually provided with a studio (and often living quarters) where they can concentrate on creating or researching movement for a set period.
The purpose is not necessarily to produce a final performance (though showings may happen), but to allow experimentation, rehearsal, and artistic growth in a supportive setting . Residencies come in many forms – some are invite-only while others are open via applications.
They can range from short intensives (even a few days) to long-term engagements lasting months or a year. Many programs bring together artists from different places (and sometimes different disciplines), fostering exchange and collaboration as part of the residency experience . In essence, a residency functions as an artistic retreat and laboratory – a time to try new ideas, collaborate, and dive deeper into one’s creative process without the pressure of day-to-day work or performance deadlines.
Types of Dance Residencies
Geared toward early-phase exploration. These often provide studio space and mentorship for experimenting with new movement ideas.
For mid-career or established choreographers to create a new work. They typically offer studio time, feedback or dramaturgy, and sometimes a performance opportunity at the end.
Where an artist teaches classes or engages with a local community in exchange for space and time to work on their own practice.
Focused on finalizing a piece before premiere – providing stage time, lighting/sound equipment, and tech support to polish the production
Many residencies combine elements (research, creation, teaching) to maximize the artist’s growth
What is Typically Included in a Residency?
While every program is different, most dance residencies include a mix of space, resources, and support for the artist. Here are common components:
Studio Space & Equipment
Nearly all residencies provide access to a dance studio or stage to rehearse in. The space is often private or shared with a small group of artists. Some programs also offer technical equipment like sound systems, lighting, or even theaters for try-outs. For example, the renowned PACT Zollverein residency in Germany gives artists a large studio (up to 173 m²), and even access to technical support and equipment by arrangement. This allows choreographers to experiment with scenography, lighting, and multimedia as needed.
Jillat offers you a very inspirational 150m² dance studio with an open fire place on one side, giving you a very calming and homelike feeling and its especially cozy in the winters here. Dancers usually gather around the fireplace before starting the morning class. The floor is built especially for dance and has a spring function, welded dance carpets (no tape here) and the carpets from Harlequin are very good for floor work. The ceiling has windows and the house is located on a peninsula just by a river in a small forest so you see the nature in all directions. In addition to the big dance studio we also have a smaller dance floor (same quality) in the amphi theatre good for practicing solos or having a performance for an audience. If you are here on a production residency you will also have access to our lights and sound systems, to try out for your production. We can also guide you on how to tour in rural areas and maybe also offer you to have your premiere in Jillat.
Accommodation
If the residency is away from the artist’s home base, it typically includes free or subsidized housing. Many programs have onsite dorms or apartments, or they arrange local accommodation for the duration of the residency. Some residencies can host multiple people, which can cover collaborators or dancers in a project. In other cases, artists might receive a housing stipend to find their own place.
Jillat offers you a house 10 min walk from the dance center where you can stay between 1-8 people depending on sleeping arrangements. There are three bedrooms and a living room, toilet with shower and a fully equipped kitchen. If you don't want to cook yourself we can arrange for breakfast bags, lunch and dinner at the hotel within 5 min from both the house and the dance center. Depending on the agreement in the residency the accommodation will be included or not included in the contract. Cleaning is included in your stay and you will arrive to a newly made bed with bedsheets and towels ready. If you need to wash clothes during your stay, you just use the washing room downstairs.
Financial Support (Stipends/Grants)
A crucial aspect is whether the residency helps cover living expenses. The “gold standard” residencies offer an artist stipend or salary so that creators can dedicate time without financial strain. Many newer programs are moving toward this model. For example, Sweden’s Arts Grants Committee dance residence provides about SEK 25,000 per month (≈ €2,100) to each artist during the 3-month residency. Germany’s K3 choreographic residency in Hamburg similarly offers a monthly scholarship (~€2,000+), a production budget, and other support to its resident choreographers. However, not all residencies pay — some cover only space and rely on the artist having other funding or grants. It’s important to read the fine print: a “free” residency that doesn’t provide food or travel might still cost you out-of-pocket for those needs, whereas another residency might charge a fee but include meals and housing, balancing out the costs.
You can clearly see on the page of our open calls if the residency you apply for has any stipends. Only one of the organizations working in Jillat has continuous funding, and it's a very small one but we are working hard on getting more funding. A part of our funding always goes back to other artists in the form of residencies.
Travel Expenses
Top residency programs often reimburse or pay for travel to and from the residency site, especially if they are inviting international artists. Some covers one round-trip travel cost per participant in the project. Not all residencies can afford this, but many help seek travel grants or have partnerships to assist artists coming from afar.
Jillat offers help to book your travels with our connected travel agency, wether you are paid for your travels or if they are part of your own project budget.
Meals and Per Diem
Some residencies provide meals – either cooked by an in-house chef or via a stipend for food. Communal dinners are sometimes a feature, which can build camaraderie among artists. Other residencies might give a per diem (daily allowance) for meals. And in some cases, artists are on their own for food but may have access to a shared kitchen. Always check if food is covered, as it can significantly impact your budget.
At Jillat we offer a fully equipped kitchen in the accommodation house, making it easy to cook as if you were home. You don't have to start from zero, we always keep a selection of spices, etc in the kitchen so that even the guests arriving late will have the possibility to make some dinner from what is in the freezer and pantry. The local hotel, 5 min from both the dance center and from the accommodation house has a nice lunch at a very reasonable price. The hotel is also owned by more than 200 of the local villagers. Frozen portions of the lunch food can also be bought at a much lower price if you don't want to bother about cooking at all during your stay.
Artistic Support and Mentoring
Beyond physical resources, residencies often include intangible support like mentorship, feedback sessions, or networking. Many dance residencies link the artist with a mentor choreographer or dramaturg, for example, K3 in Hamburg provides dramaturgical support and workshops during its residency. Some also integrate the resident into a local dance community or festival, providing contacts that can lead to future opportunities.
At Jillat we are very open to share with other artists and we offer help in different ways depending on the contract we make, and depending on what is included in your residency. We are very flexible and artists express their gratitude regarding this when we helped them with all kinds of things during their stay with us. We can also offer physiotherapy and massage through our cooperating organizations, just let us know in advance and we will help you book it.
Showings or Community Engagement
Although the focus is on process, some programs invite artists to give an informal showing or workshop for the local community or at the end of the residency. This is usually not a polished performance, but a way to share work-in-progress and engage with audiences or peers, often with feedback dialogues. Participation in these showings is typically encouraged but not always mandatory. (Notably, certain residencies explicitly do not require any public presentation, to free the artist from pressure.)
At Jillat we only offer residencies where its included to give back to the local community in some way. It could be a work in progress performance, a workshop, an artistic talk or maybe even your premiere. In the village we have other artists living, that are very open to meet up and if you want to find a workshop, a baking house or a place for weaving, just let us know.
Family-Friendliness
If you have family responsibilities, residency policies vary widely. Many residencies simply accommodate the artist alone, but a growing number are adapting to be family-inclusive. For instance, the Camargo Foundation’s residency in France welcomes artists’ spouses/partners and children, even assisting with local school enrollment for kids PACT Zollverein also states it can arrange family-friendly accommodations by request. Additionally, some specialized programs (especially in visual arts) cater to artist-parents by providing childcare or allowing children to accompany the artist. If bringing a family, artists should look for these specific “family residencies” or discuss options with the host – each program has its own rules.
For us at Jillat, family is extremely important and the main reason why we bought the accommodation house is to make it easier for couples and families to travel together when the artist in the family is working at Jillat in a dance residency or maybe recording some music in our music studio. Through our volunteer project we can also offer babysitting or child care during your residency
Bottom line
A dance residency typically gives you the essentials to focus on art: a place to dance, time away from regular gigs, and often financial or logistical help so you can concentrate on creativity. The exact mix of support (money, housing, etc.) depends on the program. Top-tier residencies strive to cover most needs – studio, funding, travel, housing – so that artists can fully immerse in their work. Others might provide space and community, but expect the artist to fund their stay. Always review what each residency includes (and what costs you must cover) when applying.