"Either CDF is particularly adept at knowing which choreographers are poised on the cusp of breakthrough, or the award itself provides the fuel for its winners to jet toward thrilling creations. Regardless of which is the case-most likely both-CDF Lab Artists account for many of the most exciting and memorable performances of the last five years."
- Zachary Whittenburg, Dance Critic, Windy City Times

WHAT WE BELIEVE

• CDF believes in the choreographer. Dancemakers are at the center of all that we do. Our lab artists each year are selected on a variety of criteria, including demonstration of a clear artistic vision, solid body of work, and a firmly grounded work ethic. The consortium then works as a steward to help guide the Lab artists through a committed process of discovery and inquiry. This process gives artists time and freedom, even freedom to fail, and we find this often results in breathtaking success.

• We value research and development. We offer Lab Artists the means to focus on their creative process rather than trying to scrape together funds for their next performance. It’s simple really – we believe that real growth (and the best work) comes from artists who have invested time, energy and inquiry. A final dance work is an expected outcome. But CDF funding and support is unique in its dedication to the belief that the steps leading up to a production are vital to creative evolution for Chicago-based artists.

• Peer support and mentoring are vital to the process. For our Lab Artists, grants are bolstered with a yearlong program of mentorship and feedback from the CDF consortium, project director and peer artists. Roundtable meetings and progress showings foster exchange about artistic, critical, and resource issues, while nurturing new artistic and peer relationships among Lab Artists and consortium members. CDF also works to serve a broader artistic community. In the past three years, 25 different workshop and discussion events with over 450 participants have taken place. These activities are designed to create critical space for individual learning and for sharing process-oriented discoveries in fields such as dramaturgy, music and video.