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Making Dance

From Studio to Stage

Finding a Presenter

Many dance companies and independent artists self-present, that is, they bring their work to the stage on their own. Others may work with a presenter.

Presenters are individuals who have relationships with venues and festivals. They choose and schedule performances by different artists and companies, which they present over the course of a full season (performance year) or a more concentrated festival event.

There are several ways for a company or artist to establish a relationship with a presenter. The presenter may simply select him or her based on familiarity with the work, or the company or artist may be expected to approach the presenter with a portfolio or a proposal. The portfolio or proposal will include a video of previous work, or the work in progress, details of the project and background information about the creator and team.

The presenter covers all the costs related to the venue. They also promote the show. The companies or artists are paid a fixed fee for the performance of the works. In turn, ticket income from the box office goes to the presenter. Having these logistical concerns taken care of enables the company or the independent artist to focus more on the artistic aspects of the work.

Some presenters and small festivals only offer a partial arrangement, or a co-presentation. In this case, the company or artist must negotiate to share the responsibilities related to the venue and promotion, as well as the box office revenue.

Watch a video interview with Cathy Levy, National Arts Centre Producer of Dance Programming.

 

»» Publicizing the event