Sundance Institute East Africa

NOTE: The application for the 2012 Sundance Institute Directors Workshop in Ethiopia is now CLOSED.

For more information about Sundance Institute East Africa, please email Deborah Asiimwe at theatreeastafrica@sundance.org.

SAMPLE INFORMATION BELOW ABOUT THE 2012 DIRECTORS WORKSHOP.

Sundance Institute East Africa is a program that supports the work of theatre artists in East Africa by creating exchange and exposure opportunities between U.S. artists and East African writers, directors, and performers. In the spirit of this exchange, Sundance Institute East Africa engages with East African artists in Africa as well as East African artists sharing their work with artists in the U.S.

While advancing the growth of individual artistic voices, we also provide mentorship and professional development opportunities-recognizing and honoring the specific cultural, social, political, and artistic realities of East African life (unique to each country as well as to the continent) within both the design and the implementation of the Program.

Sundance Institute East Africa is an exchange and development program, NOT a training program.

The primary goals of this exchange are to foster:

• The growth of the American theatre artist and field through interactions in East Africa and with East African artists
• The growth of the East African theatre artist and field through international exposure and exchange

WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR

In 2008, five American theatre artists from the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, along with two artists each from Rwanda and Tanzania, participated in an exploratory visit to meet East African theatre artists in Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda. In addition, Sundance Institute East Africa Artistic Associate Roberta Levitow attended the EATI (East African Theatre Institute) Festival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2008. In 2009, four American theatre artists and one Ugandan performer/producer made visits to Rwanda and Tanzania in an effort to meet additional East African theatre artists. In 2010, Sundance Institute East Africa conducted its first Theatre Lab on the island of Manda in Kenya. It was a three-week developmental retreat that provided the participating artists with the support of directors, dramaturges, mentors and a company of performers. The projects selected for the 2010 Lab were; Cut Off My Tongue (Kenya) by Sitawa Namwalie, The Book of Life (Rwanda) by Odile Gakire Katese as the conceiver, Africa Kills Her Sun (Tanzania) An Kiswahili adaptation of "Africa Kills Her Sun" by Ken Saro-Wiwa; by Mrisho Mpoto as adapter/performer and Silent Voices (Uganda) by Lucy Judith Adong.

Last July, 2011, Sundance Institute East Africa worked with over 15 East African artists from four East African countries, on the island of Manda. The following projects were in residency; Desperate to Fight (Ethiopia) by Meaza Worku Berehanu, He is Here He Says I Say (Uganda) by Margaret Namulyanga, Mo Faya (Kenya) by Eric Wainaina, Safari Ya Mwandale/Mwandale's Journey (Tanzania) by Irene Sanga.

WHAT'S NEXT

This year, we are delighted to announce that in April 2012, Sundance Institute East Africa will conduct a Stage Directors workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This will be our first Stage Directors Workshop in the region. The workshop will be a week-long developmental workshop providing a protected creative environment for East African Stage Directors only to work closely with a mentor to acquire tools to hone their craft. While we are excited by the new writing coming out of East Africa, our alumni have shared with us their concern about the limited number of stage directors with whom to work. This workshop has been designed in response to our alumni. As always, our goal is to offer an independent-minded community for artists to engage with their work and with each other, asking questions and taking risks.

2012 Sundance Institute Theatre Stage Directors Workshop in Addis Ababa

April 15 - April 22, 2012

Please note: All participants must be available for the entire length of the Workshop

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE

Sundance Institute East Africa is accepting open submissions from artists who live and work in East Africa and consider themselves Stage Directors. Sundance Institute East Africa welcomes applications from stage directors only. In order for Sundance Institute East Africa to fully evaluate your submission, please submit the following:

• A LETTER OF INTEREST that briefly gives your directing history, why you would like to be a part of this workshop, as well as stating what you think a director's role is in the theatre.
• DESCRIBE A SHOW that you recently directed or a show that you were most happy directing. If you have any visuals (pictures/Images) to accompany your description, that would be great. But please note that the visuals are not a requirement. Your description does not have to be more than one page.
• Sundance often employs 'dramaturgs' who work alongside playwrights and directors. These artists help to guide the playwright and playwright/director relationship by assisting in clarification of the playwright's intentions, assuring that the playwright's vision is central. If you are familiar with the word "dramaturg", in not more than a paragraph, please describe what you think is the ROLE OF A GOOD DRAMATURG.

In addition to the above, please send us your resume or C.V with at least two references. People who know and can speak to your work. Sundance Institute East Africa is interested in receiving submissions from both established and emerging Stage Directors, as well as directors making a transition from areas outside of theatre. Previous applicants may re-apply, even if you consider yourself primarily a playwright and or actor/actress. But, you must have directed at least one play or musical before applying.

PROJECT SELECTION

Through an open submission process, Sundance Institute East Africa looks for originality, innovation, and a collaborative spirit in its artists - traits that reflect well-rounded and generous individuals.. We are interested in supporting a diverse and daring group of Stage Directors who approach the composition of space in a unique way, present material in a new form, or conceptualize existing material with an inventive spirit. We look for Stage Directors who are interested in genuinely exploring material they are presented with. The Sundance Institute East Africa staff will read all submissions. Every effort will be made to include the participation of representatives from each of the countries in the region.

WHAT SUNDANCE INSTITUTE PROVIDES

Each full-time participating artist will receive a $400 USD expense reimbursement. Sundance Institute will provide for round-trip travel expenses between all selected participants' homes and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including air and ground transportation if available. Participants will also be provided with accommodations (except for those who live in Addis Ababa) and all meals while at the workshop.

Sundance Institute East Africa will manage the selection of the participants.

HOW TO APPLY

STEP ONE
Make sure you submit ALL the application materials.
Materials include:

• A LETTER OF INTEREST that briefly gives your directing history, why you would like to be a part of this workshop, as well as stating what you think a director's role is.
• DESCRIBE A SHOW that you recently directed or a show that you were most happy directing. If you have any visuals (pictures/Images) to accompany your description, that would be great. But please note that the visuals are not a requirement. Your description does not have to be more than one page.
• If you are familiar with the word "dramaturg", in not more than a paragraph, please state what you think the ROLE OF A GOOD DRAMATURG is.

STEP TWO
Send us your materials via email to theatreeastafrica@sundance.org or via airmail to:

Sundance Institute East Africa
180 Varick St, Suite 1330
New York, NY 10014
USA

DEADLINE
The deadline for all submissions is January 10th 2012.
Applicants will be notified by February 10th 2012.

If you are an interested East African artist, please check this website regularly for updated information and news about Sundance Institute East Africa. You are invited to email Deborah Asiimwe (Specialist, East Africa) at theatreeastafrica@sundance.org with any questions.

Click here for a list of past participants of Sundance Institute East Africa and click here for a list of Creative Advisors of Sundance Institute East Africa.

Thank you.