NVA & Guests Fellowship
Photo by Jim Lafferty
ABOUT
The NVA & Guests Fellowship is a new mentorship program for NYC-based* early-career dance professionals interested in the company's work and operations. NVA & Guests Fellows work directly with Artistic Director Nicole von Arx and the company team to execute day-to-day and project-specific functions while remaining immersed in its artistic initiatives and training.
*At this time, Fellowships are only available for dancers living in the NYC area, as much of the artistic benefits of the program (classes, access to rehearsals, in-studio mentorship) are designed for the in-person experience. Additionally, while administrative work is primarily conducted remotely, Fellows may be asked to support NVA & Guests NYC-based in-person activities, such as workshops, performances, and donor events.
While fully remote Fellowships are not currently available, if you are interested in potentially building one in the future, please contact us so we may stay connected!
When creating this Fellowship opportunity, NVA & Guests called upon two elements from our newly recognized and formed Core Values: Mentorship and Community. Through the NVA & Guests Fellowship, we connect with and cultivate the next generation of dance changemakers through 1:1 artistic and administrative mentorship sessions, approaching the experience from an educational lens first and foremost. As we delve into a multi-month career enhancement process with our Fellows, we simultaneously build capacity and NVA & Guests community, which we anticipate will last long beyond the Fellowship ends.
THE FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE
Administrative component: Fellowship candidates are asked to rank their administrative areas of interest in their applications. Upon successful review of applications, company team members conduct thorough interviews and meetings with each potential Fellow and develop a role + administrative professional development track specifically for them. Possible Fellowship concentration areas may include:
Educational workshops and initiatives
Performances, touring, and residencies
Fundraising, special events, and donor relations
Digital marketing, copywriting, and photo/video editing
Artistic component: NVA & Guests Fellows are offered:
Free participation in our summer and/or winter workshops
Guest passes to Artistic Director Nicole von Arx's open classes in NYC (subject to scheduling and availability)
Complimentary tickets to NVA & Guests performances
Professional development training and 1:1 mentorship sessions with Nicole based on artistic interests (administration, choreography, audition solo, etc.)
Access to the company's warmups and rehearsals.
Time Commitment: 5 hours per week (scheduling flexible) for a 6-month period. Fellows may choose to extend their time with NVA & Guests for up to 6 additional months after the initial Fellowship period.
Application Instructions: NVA & Guests is not currently accepting applications for new Fellows. Please check back in Fall 2023 for information about how to apply!
Questions? Email us at hello@nvonarx.com!
Testimonials
“The NVA & Guests Fellowship provides a personal & unique opportunity to discover the scope of work required to sustain a company of this caliber. From the outside, I have always wondered what all is going on to make it possible for groups of artists to be led to greater achievements. The fellowship is a time to build connections with artists, administrators, photographers, and presenters, while stepping into real life situations with the company. I appreciate how small and intimate this program is. It makes the whole experience very personable. I am not talking to the artistic director’s assistant or the company manager’s second hand, I’m talking and collaborating with the source. As a fellow, I mattered and my work had a significant impact on NVA & Guests. Beyond administration interests, one on one mentorship with Nicole allowed me to take time to investigate my voice as a choreographer and process ideas I had ruminating for future projects.. Most of all, the whole artistic/admin team came alongside me as thought partners. With rich attention, the internal community of NVA & Guest coached, affirmed, and encouraged my professional growth.”
Alyssa Myers - 2023 Spring Fellow
“The Fellowship has given me hands-on experience with intentional and present mentorship. It is not just about completing the work and learning through doing, it is focused on relationship building and open and honest communication. I get to ask questions directly related to my goals as an artist and brainstorm with Nicole on how to achieve those goals. She has directly connected me with multiple artists relevant to what I am pursuing, as well as encouraged me to reach out to a larger network. Specifically, the Summer Workshop encouraged me to expand my identity as an artist. As a dancer, it exposed me to new avenues of training and allowed me to connect with a welcoming community with a variety of backgrounds. As a creator, I learned how to balance content creation with partaking in the workshop classes. It was a challenge to balance both aspects, but the reward was phenomenal–to see the photos I took represent my experience as a participant was gratifying and built my confidence in my own artistry.”
Tessa Fungo - 2023 Fellow