New Works Cohort
Last Day to Apply: November 13, 2025, 11:59 pm PST
Cohort Online Info Session: Wednesday, October 29, 2025. 5-6pm PST
About the Program
The New Works Cohort Program is a 5-month long program offering both mentorship and coaching around the business of producing dance. Up to 10 participants will have the opportunity to create individual learning strategies with the support of the New Works Cohort Team. Participants will expand their networks while gaining knowledge and insights from leading performing arts professionals with expertise in:
- fundraising
- producing
- organizational management
- communications & marketing
- career planning
- finance
- and more!
By learning from each other's experiences, the participants will gain sustainable skills and knowledge over the course of 5 months (from January to May 2026). The course content is meant to be responsive to the needs of the Cohort, and so this application collects information about you or your company's needs.
Potential Outcomes
- Be part of a supportive network of dance makers, learning together and sharing experiences.
- Shine a light towards where your career or company is going, and feel empowered with new skills so you can get there.
- Be guided by a professional mentor, whose counsel is tailored specifically to your situation.
Completion Certificate
Cohort participants who attend and actively participate in a minimum of eight out of the nine workshop sessions and complete a minimum of four mentorship hours will receive a letter and certificate noting their successful completion of the Cohort Program.
Exclusive Workshop Opportunities
Cohort Participants will have fully sponsored access to the New Works In Practice Symposium, March 22, 2026. Details to be announced December 2025.
Program Details - Review before submitting
We are working hard to keep the cost for the program as accessible as possible. Over the course of 5 months, you will receive 20 hours of workshops and 5 hours of personal mentorship, guided by leading professionals in the dance sector. We believe this represents significant value, as the skills, networks, and insights you’ll gain will have a long-lasting impact on your career or company - the total cost to deliver the Cohort Program is $975 per participant. The Cohort Program, has a participant fee of $100, which breaks down to just $20 per month. This fee helps ensure commitment to the full program while allowing us to continue offering the mentorship, coaching, and tailored support that makes the Cohort a valuable experience for all participants. We understand that even a small fee can pose a barrier for some artists. We remain committed to ensuring that this program is accessible to everyone, and support is available if the cost is a barrier. Our goal is to create an environment where all selected participants feel supported and able to take full advantage of the opportunities this program offers.
If you are an artist or company leader looking to be part of the 2026 Cohort, consider applying for our current intake in October 2025.
We prioritize applications from equity-deserving artists who have or are facing economic or systemic barriers that infringe on their artistic career. (This could include, but is not limited to, artists who identify as facing systemic or economic barriers. Indigenous, Black or people of color, Trans, Non-binary, Queer, Deaf or experiencing disability, low income, and living in the intersections of these identities.)
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, and the selected artists announced in December 2025.
Ready to submit your application?
Click the button below to apply through the Google Form.
If the form isn’t accessible to you, you can instead download the PDF application and email it to Cohort Program Coordinator, Marco Esccer, at marco@newworks.ca.
Please note that PDF applications must be received by November 13, 2025.
Questions?
We will host a free, online info session two weeks before Cohort Applications are due. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the program and ask questions before submitting your application.
Cohort Online Info Session
Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 5pm PST
Free, Online
Info Session - Watch the Recording
Advanced Registration Required
If you have any further questions please contact Marco Esccer at marco@newworks.ca
New Works Cohort Team:
Jason Dubois - Cohort Program Co-Lead
Michelle Kneale - Cohort Program Co-Lead
Amber Barton - Mentor and Program Facilitator
Marco Esccer - Program Coordinator
Cohort Alumni Testimonials:
Check out the Cohort Program from past seasons
Lillian Wallman
OME Dance (Silene Razo & Judith Colibri)
Ysadora Dias
Grace Richter
Isaac Gasangwa
Josh Cameron
Paper Rabits (Elle Derkitt, Nathan Coburn, Sophia Makarenko)
Jay Gignac & Jaqueline Ritter
Vidya Kotamraju
Arno Kamolika
Read full bios
2025 Cohort Program Facilitators:
Michelle Kneale,
& Jason Dubois, New Works Executive Director.
2025 Cohort Program Guest Speakers:
Carianne Shakes (Canada Council for the Arts Grant Officer)
Ines Min
Trevor Battye
Shay Kuebler
Cristina Bucci
Brent Belsher
Dani Fecko
Francesca Fung
Jessica Han
Liat Har Lev/ Lili Flamenco
Isak Enquist and Eowynn Enquist
Just Donsan
Clarence Tang - Konichiwaack
Training Society of Vancouver - Antonio Jr. Somera
Lance Lim, Pigeon Den Art Collective
Fiana Kawane
Clala Dance Project
Sarah Hutton & Aiden Cass, Company generous mess
Kevin Shazam Li
2024 Cohort Program Facilitators:
Michelle Kneale,
& Jason Dubois, New Works Executive Director.
Read full bios
Alexis Fletcher
Carol Mendes | AMOK
Alexandra Clancy | Soleful Dance Collective
Carla Alcántara
Kami Reed Schuyler
Kaili Che
Kiera Shaw
Luciana Freire D’Anunciacao
Melissa Sorge | The Body Project
Punit Singh
Subscura | hushhush
2023 Cohort Program Coordinators:
Michelle Kneale,
& Jason Dubois, New Works Executive Director.
Jade A. Hails
Sarah Hin Ching U
COME EMOTE WITH ME, Rita Sheena
Shanny Rann, International Tristar Taiji Association
Paige McConnell and Kenzie Skoglund, Counterbalance Projects
Kaia Shukin
Rachel Helten
Elizabeth Ferns
Anya Saugstad
Sierra Megas
2022 Cohort Program Coordinators:
Michelle Kneale is an arts administrator, and dramaturg with over 10 years experience in professional theatre; She has worked for companies such as Boca del Lupo, Pi Theatre, Alberta Playwrights Network, Pumphouse Theatre, Handsome Alice Theatre, African Friendship Society, and Ne. Sans Opera and Dance. Michelle is currently Board Past President of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, and Board Vice President of Playwrights Canada Press. Michelle has experience with producing, governance, operations, administration, communications & outreach, grant writing, planning, leadership transitions, artist support, programming, as well as physical and digital organizing. & Julie Mamias, Former New Works Executive Director.
Jhoely Triana
Ne.Sans Opera and Dance (Idan Cohen)
Tamar Zehava Tabori
Stephanie Cyr
Joshua Ongcol
Kayla De Vos
Kelly McInnes
Lily Cryan
CAMP (Brenna Metzmeier, Sarah Formosa, Ted Littlemore, Isak Enquist, Eowynn Enquist) VD/CM Productions (Kay Huang Crossmaneuver & Virginia Duivenvoorden) 2021 Cohort Program Coordinators: Kristina Lemieux, arts manager with more than 20 years of professional experience. She is also a contemporary dancer. Raised in Treaty 6 territory (rural Alberta), Kristina lived in Edmonton, attending the University of Alberta, for 10 years before heading to Vancouver where her passion for the arts has driven collaboration, creation, and innovation in the Vancouver arts scene for over a decade. After working with Generator in a freelance capacity for several years, Kristina made the move to Toronto in January 2017 to take on the role of Lead Producer of Generator. She is also the proud co-founder and Creative Producer of F-O-R-M. Kristina is passionate about generating dialogue in the arts and, to this end, earned a certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement from Simon Fraser University. In all that she does she works to support independent artists across performing disciplines in finding ways to make art outside of the currently prescribed modes. & Julie Mamias, Former New Works Executive Director.