DANCE CALL OUT
與我再舞，如同往昔。Dance with me once more, as in the old days.
Donald Shek is seeking versatile dancers/performers to collaborate on the R&D phase of Dance With Me, a moving image artwork for initial exhibition at Paradise Works Salford and online presentation by Film and Video Umbrella, exploring intergenerational British Chinese and wider BESEA and diasporic community social spaces, memory, belonging, and cultural identity during his residency at FVU:LAB, Nottingham Trent University.
The project investigates the dance floor as a diasporic “third space”, a site of intimacy, inheritance, belonging, and temporal looping, drawing on mythology, dance halls, club culture, and concepts of hauntology.
Moving between:
> Myth and memory> Club and community> Past and future
I am looking for performers working with movement, dance, or embodied practice to take part in a two-day research and development process as part of the FVU Lab Residency at Nottingham Trent University during the last two weeks of August 2026.
As part of the process, performers will participate in motion capture sessions using Xsens motion capture suits and Faceware facial capture technology. Captured movement and expressions will contribute to the development of digital animations that will form part of the final exhibition.
The residency will explore both solo and collaborative movement approaches. Some sessions may involve paired movement research and the development of dual choreographic material, though the exact structure will evolve through the R&D process.
A detailed brief and R&D program schedule will be provided to the successful applicants prior to the R&D period.
All movement backgrounds and styles welcome, however Donald is also looking for dancers that practice Ballroom and Latin who can perform the basic beginner figures for the following dances: Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, Rhumba, and Waltz.
Dancer/Performer Fee:
£500 total
> £250 One rehearsal/research day
> £250 One motion capture day
Dates:
One of the following two-day periods for motion capture at Nottingham Trent University:
> 19–20 August 2026
> 26-27 August 2026
Plus a rehearsal day in advance of the above periods.
(Note: For Ballroom and Latin Dancers no rehearsal provided, set figures will be provided to the dancers beforehand)
Support:
> Travel covered if you are based outside of Nottingham.> Accommodation provided if you are based outside of Nottingham.> £30 per diem per day
I am particularly interested in hearing from dancers/performers connected to BESEA and diasporic experiences, though the opportunity is open to all.
Requirements:
> Must aged 18+
> Based in the UK
> Allowed to work in the UK
To apply, fill in the Google Form via this Link:
(Below are the questions that you will be asked)
- Your Name, preferred pronouns, Email Address, Phone Number
- Where you are currently based
- A short introduction and why this opportunity interests you- Link to your previous work via Youtube, Vimeo, or Instagram (Max 1 Link)
- Link to your website (Max 1 Link)
- Your availability during the dates listed- A list of dance styles, movement practices, or embodied disciplines you specialise in
Selection Process:
- Applications will close on the 17th July or when all positions have been filled.
- Notification of successful applicants will be notified by 27th July.
Privacy:
The personal data you give me when submitting your application will be used to process your application for this opportunity by me, Donald Shek. I will only contact you in connection to this application. Your personal data will be kept by me for up to six months after notifying you of the outcome of the recruitment exercise and will only be used for recruitment for this opportunity, for evaluation, reporting and marketing analysis. Your information will not be shared with anyone else unless your applications is successful, at which point it will be shared with Film and Video Umbrella in order to facilitate your contract, travel, accommodation and per diems. If you would like to be removed from the database you can email donshi@donshiart.com. You have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office should you wish to complain about how your information has been handled.
Please feel free to share.
Donald Shek.