OVERVIEW

• The program is a virtual artist residency/fund organised by Nava Dance Theatre, aimed at supporting South Asian dance and movement artists from diverse backgrounds.
• It enables selected artists to develop a new dance‑based project, with cohort meetings, work‑in‑progress sharing, and production support.
• For the 2026 cycle: applications are open, with the deadline of November 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST (which correspondingly is December 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM IST) for applicants in India.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Artists who identify as South Asian or work in South Asian dance/movement practices (including “South Asian identifying folks creating in art forms that lack structural and organizational support in the South Asian performing arts industry”).
• Applicants may belong to historically marginalised or under‑represented communities in the South Asian dance world (for example, by gender, caste, diaspora, immigration status, or working in less‑supported forms).
• The applicant should propose a new or re‑imagined dance work.
• Applicants must be able to participate in the virtual cohort, share work in progress, and engage with peers.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Applicants fill out an online form (via the Nava Dance website).
• Required materials include: artist bio/CV, description of proposed project, details of how the work engages with your identity/practice/context (particularly with South Asian movement/dance).
• After selection, cohort members join monthly meetings (for example, 6 or 7 meetings between Feb–Aug) and will present a virtual Work in Progress.

AWARDS

Each selected artist receives a base award (e.g., USD $1,500) and further production support: for U.S.‑based artists up to USD $2,000‑$2,500, for India‑based artists up to INR ≈ 40,000.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2025