FAYE DRISCOLL AUDITION NOTICE :: CALL FOR PERFORMERS

Faye Driscoll is seeking an ensemble of experienced, curious and grounded performers 
for her newest project, scheduled to premiere as part of New York Live Arts' 2022–23 season and tour into 2023/24. 
DEADLINE TO APPLY: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021

 

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Driscoll’s newest performance work, she draws upon two prolific choreographies: the act of battle and the act of sex. We fight and we have sex and we love to watch others do these things, at an increasing remove. 

She notes, “I’m curious about the messy flesh-under-the-fingernails fluid-sharing kind of physical impact, in contrast to, say, the impact of drone strikes or streaming porn.” Who or what do we allow to touch us now? Lovers, parents, friends, grocery store clerks, data miners, surveillance systems, facial recognition software? How are we altered? Where is our body, and how far does it extend? 

Touch—the need for it, and our fear of it—the conflict in it, and complications of consent, are inquiries for this work. From there, we will build an uncanny physical language, along with live sound and guttural singing, costumes, objects, and more, all aimed at riling up the passive, numb, screened-out body. 

We will uses heightened modes of performativity, reformulations of proximity, and at times direct physical connection with the audience, to call us back to the complex ecosystem that is our skin. In doing so, we will invite audiences to abandon our sell-sell-sell, image-obsessed culture and reclaim our undefinable, emergent, unmarketable strangeness.

SEEKING PERFORMERS WITH THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES:
– Has at least five years experience in the professional dance/performance scene; 
– Is a highly skilled dancer/mover interested in both research and precision;
– Has strong acting and singing skills; 
– Is a dynamic improviser, comfortable with touch and contact;
– Has a strong curiosity for process, collaboration and dialogue;
– Is an excellent communicator; 
– Craves experimentation, self-examination, risk, vulnerability and is committed to creative exploration;
– Interest in exploring the work’s themes, which may call for nudity and/or simulated sex and violence, in a process supported by instruction in fight choreography and intimacy coordination working together to explore issues of consent, communication, and contact. 

Other desirable qualities include: 
– Familiarity with Faye’s work. 
– Interested in philosophical/metaphysical questions underpinning the making and 
performing of live work. 
– Good team person, comfortable with working in an ensemble.
– Wants to tour and travel.
– In addition to singing and vocal work, other musical skills are a plus. 
– Has a sense of humor. Less diva, more compassionate weirdo. 

Performers of all races, ages, genders and bodies are encouraged to apply. Performers must be fully vaccinated by the time of the call back auditions.*

SCHEDULE / FEES 
Must be available for call backs on November 8–12, 2021

Must be available for rehearsal process: 
– November 29–December 18, 2021 in NYC
– January 3–15, 2022 in NYC
– July–August, 2022 in NYC and out of town
– October–November, 2022 NYC and out of town
– Continued intensive work through late 2022/early 2023 towards premiere at New York Live Arts dates TBD. 
– April–July, 2023 Continued work and touring in US and Germany 
 
Compensation during development and rehearsal will be a minimum of $18 per hour, with rehearsal weeks at 20–35 hours per week.

            
TO APPLY
In a two-step process, applicants will first complete a virtual submission, which will be followed by an in-person audition.To be considered, please submit the following via this Google Form:

– Your CV and/or Resume
– Headshot
– ONE 3-minute improvisation video which shows a variety of physical qualities and emotional states. It is important for us that your face is seen in the video. This does not need to be shot in a dance studio, but it is important for us that your full body is in frame, and your face is visible at times within the video.
– ONE 3-minute documentation video from a previous performance. Please frame the relevant 3 minutes out of any documentation. If the section is part of a larger video, please note the time code.
– ONE self-recorded video of no longer than 3 minutes, in which you:
• Introduce yourself—share your name, where you’re from, what interests you about this project;
• Sing a section of a song or chant of your choice; 
• Finally, tell us something about your singing selection—perhaps why you chose it, or what it means to you, or how it feels to sing it.

All videos must be submitted as a viewable link such as Vimeo or Youtube and not as a downloadable file.
A limited number of applicants will be invited to an in-person audition process at New York Live Arts. 

IN-PERSON AUDITIONS AND CALLBACKS 
Applicants should hold November 8-12 for workshop-style auditions and callbacks in-person at New York Live Arts in the 3rd Floor Studios. Attendance at the callbacks will require everyone to follow the below covid safety protocols and guidelines.

All applicants will be required to provide proof of full vaccination and government issued ID before entry to New York Live Arts. Applicants will be asked to wear a mask when in any part of the building. Accepted proofs of vaccination are Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID Safe App, or valid vaccine card. “Fully vaccinated” means the event date must be at least 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose covid vaccine, or at least 14 days after a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. 

* For applicants who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical accommodations, applicants may email fayedriscollgroup@gmail.com with the subject line “exemptions” for consideration and specific protocols.

If you have questions, please email fayedriscollgroup@gmail.com.
www.fayedriscoll.com