Creative Director: Elisabeth Roskopf
Dance For Diversity is presented in partnership with Danceworks Inc.

What Is Dance For Diversity?

Dance For Diversity (DFD) is an annual screendance project series that is made explicitly for Artists of Color to elevate their unique voices and share their stories through their dance-making and performance work. DFD provides a platform for Artists of Color to create an original solo piece on film that reflects who they are, their story of identity, and expresses personal experiences that address (including but not limited to) racial stereotypes, discrimination, and assumptions. The culmination of these solos on screen will reach multiple audiences at a film premiere and in various site-specific spaces, including high schools and universities local to the Greater Milwaukee Area and nationwide. DFD amplifies the visibility of the Artists and their work through a distinctive lens that encompasses identity, race, culture, social change, belonging, social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices to incorporate within the dance and education curricula.

Dance For Diversity shines a light on underrepresented groups, in hopes of promoting inclusive habits in arts spaces where BIPOC Artists are often isolated. This project is a call to action for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field of dance and the arts to help dismantle systems that perpetuate discrimination, violence, hate, and erasure. In service to representation, DFD allows an opportunity to lift up the experiences of Artists of Color and provides an opportunity for diverse audience members to see themselves in art.

As Provenance: A Letter to My Daughter inspired her vision to create Dance For Diversity, Elisabeth is creating a permanent space for underrepresented Artists to not only share their personal stories of identity, but to also connect with other Artists who share similar stories and life experiences.

2023 Application period: April 18th, 2023 – May 31st, 2023
The application period for 2023 is now closed

The Mission Statement of Dance For Diversity

Dance For Diversity amplifies visibility and creates a consistent platform for BIPOC Artists to center their unique voices and their stories through their art, while fostering a place of belonging and reclamation of their true identities. DFD’s vision is to give Artists of Color the power to own who they are unapologetically and claim their space onstage and offstage.

Submission Process

Artists (Dance Artist and Cinematographer) will be required to submit an application that includes a written solo project proposal, biographical information, and any work/materials they may have for viewing.

• Age Requirement: 18 years or older 
• (4) Artists of Color will be selected to create, rehearse, film, and present their screendance solos at reserved venue(s) 
• (4) Cinematographers will be selected to film and edit the screendance solos  
• Length of screendance solos: 5 – 10 minutes 

Key Components for Accepted Artists & Cinematographers 

Choreographers and Cinematographers will be offered benefit packages as a way to fully support and provide guidance to the Artists and their work that they are contributing to the neighboring arts communities.      

• Dance Artists to receive a Choreography Stipend of $1000
• Cinematographers to receive a Filming Stipend of $1000
• Miscellaneous stipend for costs may include space rentals, costumes, props – $500 each
• Free rehearsal space at Danceworks for Dance Artists (3 hours/week)
• Free Danceworks classes for Dance Artists and Cinematographers (2 classes/week) 
• Mentorship & feedback sessions with Elisabeth Roskopf & Christal Wagner 
• Promotion/Marketing for the Artists
• Screening of the Artists’ collaborative work at Dance For Diversity Film Premiere Event

Timeline for Screendance Solo Works, 2023 Season 

• April 18, 2023 – Call for Proposals 
• May 31st, 2023 – Submissions Closed 
• June 14, 2023 – Selected Artists are notified of acceptance and announced from the Creative Director
• June – Set up individual meetings with each Artist for introductions, discuss proposals, ideas on shoot locations, etc. 
• July–August – 2 months of solo work creation
• Approx. 24 hours total for developing concepts, phrase work in rehearsals, and mentorship/feedback sessions 
• September–October – Film Period 
• 2–3 weeks of filming suggested with Artist/Choreographer and Cinematographer 
• 2–3 weeks of editing suggested with Artist/Choreographer, Cinematographer, and Elisabeth Roskopf 
• November – Sneak peek/promotion of Artists’ solo works and talkback session at Danceworks
• December – Premiere presentation of screendance solos at sponsored venue

ELIGIBILITY – CHOREOGRAPHER / DANCER

– BIPOC Dance Artists/Choreographers are welcome to apply 
– 18 years of age or older to apply 

ELIGIBILITY – CINEMATOGRAPHER

– Any Cinematographer of any race, ethnicity, and/or gender are welcome to apply 
– 18 years of age or older to apply