CHOREOLAB AT THE BARN

2024 ChoreoLab Artists

Caitlin Morgan

Caitlin Morgan is a Burlington-based full-time creative: choreographer, dance and yoga teacher (RYT 200), and book editor. She’s been facilitating movement—in various forms, styles, and across all ages—for over fourteen years, and has performed and trained professionally across the Midwest and New England under the direction of multiple Bessie Award-winning artists. As a choreographer, she’s presented work throughout New York and Vermont, including for the Small Plates Choreography Festival, Slow Shapes Dance Company, and Junction Dance Festival in 2023, and at the Mark Morris Dance Center, Teatro LATEA, Threes Brewing, and The Actor’s Fund Arts Center during her tenure in NYC before moving to Vermont at the end of 2021. Her work is commonly inspired by ecosomatics and communication theories, taking shape with influences from Flying Low, Countertechnique, jazz, and postmodern dance, as well as the many individual artists (some listed below) she’s had the opportunity to study with over the years. Caitlin credits her sustained appreciation for movement as an equally academic and somatic artform to her beginnings with the Berrien County Dancers: a career preparatory program for Modern dance (chiefly Graham and Limón) with close ties to Chicago-based contemporary and jazz repertoire companies, including Hubbard Street Dance and Giordano Dance—both of which she studied with early on in her training. Caitlin also holds a dual BFA in Dance and BA in English from Ohio University where she performed and collaborated on choreographies by Kyle Abraham, David Dorfman, Jasmine Hearn, Joanna Kotze, Kendra Portier, Ani Javian, Nathan Andary, Anna and the Annadroids, and the National Dance Company of Ghana (amongst others). Connect with Caitlin at www.CMMovement.com.

Calvin Walker

Calvin Walker is a multidisciplinary artist who has made a mark on the Vermont dance scene as a breakdancer (bboy), acrobat, and modern dancer. He is a founding member of the Rhythm Riderz, Vermont’s oldest active bboying crew, and a member of PH Dance.

In addition to his dance pursuits, Calvin is a novelist and occasional poet. He enjoys telling stories through different mediums and aims to challenge expectations and push the physical limits of dance in his performances.

Through his work, Calvin hopes to create thought-provoking pieces that pose questions to his audience. He believes in the power of dance to communicate ideas and emotions in a unique way.

Having grown up in northern Vermont, Calvin began his dance journey in his early teens. His background and experiences within the state have shaped his artistic style, which continues to evolve with each new project.

As a recipient of the Choreolab residency, Calvin looks forward to creating a new work that showcases his skills as a dancer and storyteller while exploring innovative ways to express himself through movement.

Taylor Barnes

Taylor is a writer, dancer and visual artist based in Pomfret, VT, where she lives with her husband and two-year-old son. An autistic and synesthetic artist, Taylor roots her work in movement, language and form, building creative frameworks that affirm reparative ecology. Taylor graduated from Williams College in 2013 with a BA in English and Philosophy. She is a 2019 alumna of EMERGE-NYC, a Brooklyn, NY-based incubator for emerging artists working for social justice. Taylor performed a solo “Echo” at the Junction Dance Festival in 2023 and looks forward to returning to JDF this summer through the Choreo Lab artist residency.

Carla Kimball

Carla has had more than 40 years of training as dancer and a yoga and tai chi practitioner. Over the years she has maintained a regular and ongoing movement practice that has included some combination of the three. She taught yoga and dance and is currently a long-time practitioner of improvisational modern dance. She was recently a member of the Ensemble Marie dance company where she performed in and filmed a number of movement pieces around the Upper Valley.
While also a long-time casual photographer, Carla’s more serious efforts as a photographer began in 2009 when she started a daily photo blog called Revealed Presence. Carla’s recent photographic works have explored printing photographs on torn fabric. She has now expanded her creative explorations into filmmaking, particularly of dancers and dance choreography.
Her photography and film exhibitions include the Southern Vermont Art Center, Artistree Gallery, AVA Gallery, SculptureFest, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Northern Stage, and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Her photographs are included in permanent collections at DHMC, Northern Stage and Open Door as well as many individual collectors.

What is ChoreoLab?

The Junction Dance Festival, Inc., has created this program to financially assist choreographers/performers in their artistic career. Eligible participants are invited to use a well-equipped studio/performance space at no cost for two months in the spring. In addition the choreographers/performers will have the opportunity to perform their new work at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction during The Junction Dance Festival summer event .

Participation:

The program is limited to five participants (a participant may apply as a group). Applicants residing in Vermont or New Hampshire or those who have strong connections to VT/NH (for example: having been raised, schooled or worked in the twin states) will have priority. However, if there are openings, candidates from neighboring states will be considered on a case by case basis. Candidates will be selected on the strength of their application and their time commitment.

The studio/performance space:

Located in Corinth, VT, the Barn was completely renovated in 2020. It is now a gorgeous, newly climate controlled dance studio with a professional floor, mirrors and barre. It has high ceilings and is free of structural barriers. Floor dimensions are 30’ width x 25’ depth. There is a separate entrance and a loft area for changing and for breaks. The space is well suited for small performances: it has professional lighting, audio and wireless internet.

Program:

The two month spring program is specifically designed for local artists. Participants will be given a weekly time slot to use the studio through the duration of the program and for a minimum of three hours per day but not necessarily each day of the week. For example, participant A, who is working on a solo, may need the studio every Tuesday for 3 hours, while participant B, working with a group of dancers, may want to have more time and reserve the studio 4 hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. Saturdays and Sundays spots are available but will be reserved for special situations when participants are working during the week and can only be free on weekends, or for intensive sessions. Participants will be assigned a final schedule according to their choreographic needs. The studio is open from 10:00am to 9:00pm, daily. On certain conditions a short residency (up to three weeks), can be arranged. Please contact Elizabeth at info@thejunctiondancefestival.org for information on this option.

Conditions:

Choreographers/performers must create an original work (has not been seen before), and will have the opportunity to present their piece at the Barn and at Briggs Opera House during the summer festival. Choreographers must also be available for a mid-program work-in-progress showing.

Other considerations:

There is a $25 nonrefundable application fee.
You must be 16 years of age and be able to drive to apply or, be chaperoned by an adult.
Performers/dancers with limited experience or new to choreography are encouraged to apply. We can offer mentoring assistance from seasoned artists.
Low cost lodging can be arranged on premise for intensive sessions (up to one week). Nearby Airbnb rentals are also an option.

If accepted you agree to adhere to your appointed schedule, to be punctual and to respect the studio space and its environment.

If necessary COVID precautions will be implemented for the duration of the program.

The Junction Dance Festival does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, and sexual orientation. Artists from the BIPOC and non-binary community are welcome to apply.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Kurylo at info@thejunctiondancefestival.org or call (802)439 9117.