Rolling Applications for Off the Lead: A Residency Program for Queer Performers

“Off the Lead” is a biannual, two week residency program that provides rehearsal space, mentorship, financial resources, and a free public showing to Queer, Seattle based performance artists. Twice a year, Drama Tops, invites three artists to join them in the rehearsal room to develop their work alongside each other and produce a free, informal, public showing. These artists are chosen based on the criteria of eligibility (over the age of 18, identified as Queer, and living in Seattle) and artistic potential.

Rehearsal Space
This program is a resident space partner at Seattle Theater Group’s Kerry Hall. Drama Tops rents full days from Seattle Theater Group and organizes with the artists to schedule 30 hours of rehearsal time. It is very rare for a dancer in Seattle to have access to a studio continually day to day. Off the Lead pays for 24 hours a day of space even though there will not be overnight rehearsals to encourage Queer artists to experiment with set and costume in relation to their work without the burden of transporting materials to and from every rehearsal.

Non Hierarchical Mentorship
Off the Lead is a residency program that is a response to mentorship gaps in Seattle Queer nightlife and dance communities created by the pandemic and the generational gap in Queer community because of the AIDS crisis. In particular, Queer Seattle Artists got to the other side of the pandemic feeling alone and devoid of intergenerational connection around their art. This is why the program is centered around cohort dialogues. During the program, all of the artists are encouraged to dialogue about their work and provide each other feedback through weekly group meetings called Art Talks. During these meetings the artists show each other their work and talk about where they want to be in the next 5, 10, 15 years. Drama Tops believes in the importance of non hierarchical mentorship as a response to the limitations around traditional hierarchy when it comes to valuing different peoples’ experiences. We believe everyone has expertise and everyone has something to share.

Paying Artists
Drama Tops pays the artists in the program for their time. Stipends depend of funding.

Free Public Showing 
Every Off the Lead Residency ends in a free public showing where each Off the Lead artist shows about 10 minutes of what they have been working on. The audience is then guided through a feedback process by Drama Tops as a way to broaden Seattle Audience’s literacy around Queer performance.