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2020 Jadin Wong Fellowship in Dance Application Guidelines
Jadin Wong (1913-2010) was a Chinese American actress, dancer, and comedienne. She performed at San Francisco’s legendary all-Asian nightclub, Forbidden City, and toured throughout America, Europe, and Asia. In 1960, Ms. Wong moved to New York City. She appeared in Broadway shows and founded Jadin Wong Management in hopes of helping more Asian American talent to be cast in significant roles in theater, film, and television. Ms. Wong’s final performance was on October 11, 1997, at a gala benefit for a new national Chinese American museum.
The Asian American Arts Alliance is pleased to administer, with support from the New York Community Trust, the 2020 Jadin Wong Fellowship for an emerging Asian American dance artist to create new work.
A4’s mission is to ensure greater representation, equity, and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations through resource sharing, promotion, and community building. In line with these efforts, it is the aim of the Jadin Wong Fellowship to support an early-career individual Asian American artist living in New York City to develop new work to add to the creative discourse.
This award is a tribute to the life and work of renowned Chinese American actress, dancer, and comedienne Jadin Wong. Ms. Wong was a lifelong pioneer and innovator in the field of performing arts and strove to ensure opportunities for Asian Americans through her efforts as a performer and talent agent.
A4 will grant a fellowship to one early-career Asian American dance artist, age 30 or younger, whose work shows outstanding promise and who may benefit from further professional artistic development, and who is of limited financial means.
The fellowship recipient will receive an unrestricted cash stipend of $6,000 and an eight- month fellowship tailored to respond to the unique needs of their practice. The fellowship includes artistic mentorship with an established or mid-career dance professional, leadership coaching, and a range of technical support.
A4 will administer an open application process.
Jadin Wong Chichester. Photo: New York Community Trust.
Fellowship Description
In addition to the cash stipend of $6,000, the fellow will participate in an eight-month program beginning in May 2020 and ending in December 2020. The fellowship is structured in three phases, each facilitating a different area of professional development.
Phase 1: Career Coaching
May – July 2020
The selected fellow will receive three coaching sessions from an esteemed career coach. The coaching will cover core value strengthening and goal setting/vision planning. These sessions are meant to offer personal and professional development tools for the fellow to empower themself as a leader of their vision, craft, and field.
Phase 2: Artistic Mentorship
July – September 2020
The selected fellow will receive artistic mentorship from an established or mid-career theater professional. The mentorship will include one-on-one meetings with the appointed mentor. The mentor will be chosen by A4 staff based on field recommendations and with input from the fellow, giving consideration to their interests and preferences.
Phase 3: A4 Public Program
October – December 2020
The selected fellow will work with A4 staff to develop and present one community workshop or public presentation in December 2020 based on their experience with the fellowship or work generated through the process.
Jadin Wong with Humphry Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Rudolf Friml, and others. Photo © New York Community Trust.
Deadline
APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BY 11:59PM EDT ON MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020.
Eligibility
The applicant MUST:
- Be of Asian heritage
- Be 30 years of age or younger at the time of the fellowship (born May 1, 1989 or later)
- Not be currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in a degree-granting program
- during the fellowship period (May – December 2020)
- Be a resident of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island)
- Be currently living in the US and primarily based in New York City during the fellowship period (May – December 2020)
- Have at least two years of experience in presented dance
- NOTE: Current A4 staff, board members, and review panelists are not eligible. Immediate family of A4 staff, board members, and review panelists are not eligible.
Review and Selection Criteria
The fellow will be selected through an open call and jury process. A jury composed of established professionals in the field will evaluate the submitted applications based on the following criteria:
- Artistic merit: Technical skill, performance quality, and expression will be evaluated.
- Creation of new work: Description of the project to be developed or completed during the fellowship.
- Community impact: Articulation of interest or hopes to make a significant impact on the Asian American and New York City artistic community as a whole, based on narrative responses in the application.
- Potential for growth: Extent to which the fellowship will advance the applicant’s goals and career.
- Financial need: Demonstrated need for financial support. Finalists may be asked to provide further financial documentation.
Time Frame
January 29, 2020 - Public announcement of open call
March 16, 2020 - Submissions close by 11:59pm EDT
March - April - Panel review period
April 28, 2020 - Notification of award
Application
All applications are submitted online via Jotform.
1) Online application
- A 100-word (maximum) statement describing the influences, legacies, and/or heritage in your artistic work. NOTE this question is optional, but will provide context and give reviewers a better understanding of your work.
- A 750-word (maximum) statement identifying the applicant’s approach to working in dance, where the applicant is in their professional and artistic development, and how the fellowship will help them pursue their future ambitions and goals.
- A 250-word (maximum) statement articulating how the applicant hopes to make an impact on the Asian American artistic community through their work.
- A 500-word(maximum)statementdescribingtheprojecttobecreatedthrough the support of this fellowship.
- A 150-word (maximum) statement describing how the cash stipend awarded as part of this fellowship would financially support the project and the applicant’s livelihood as an artist.
2) Letter of recommendation (from an educator or dance professional experienced with the artist’s work)
3) Resume and headshot
4) Work samples (up to three work samples total): Three recent (within the past 4 years) video work samples demonstrating the applicant’s best performance or choreography. Each sample should be no more than 4 minutes in length.
