12 MINUTES MAX
SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHOREOGRAPHIC IDEAS THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION AND DIALOGUE.
12 Minutes Max (12MM) seeks to foster experimentation and the development of a choreographic idea or work-in-progress, from the initial stages through to the first public encounter.
2026-2027 season
Applications for the 2026-2027 season are now open.
Deadline for applications: August 10, 2026
Results announced: August 31, 2026
Module 1 Showing: Monday February 8, 2027
Module 2 Showing: Monday April 12, 2027
Facilitators: Tasha Faye Evans, Ziyian Kwan
Participants receive subsidized studio space at The Dance Centre, ongoing support and feedback from facilitators, access to professional development over the season including Craft Development Series workshops and Business of Dance sessions, lighting design consultation, and professional video and photographic documentation.
Participants share their research with their peers in the program and participate in community dialogues with audiences at public showings.
The 12 Minutes Max Process
- There will be two research and development modules for which artists can submit ideas and works-in-progress.
- Two facilitators each module.
- The facilitators will select up to four artists per module.
- Selected artists will receive 30 hours of fully-subsidized studio space at The Dance Centre to develop their works, with input from the facilitators. Artists may book additional rehearsal hours at regular rates if desired.
- At the end of each module all the artists will share their work first with each other and the facilitators, and then in an informal studio showing open to the public. Artists are expected to have 7-12 minutes of material to show.
12 MINUTES MAX ARTISTS
Arno Kamolika
Arno is a Vancouver based bharatanatyam dance artist and instructor. Born and raised in Bangladesh, she draws from her training of various disciplines like architecture, music, mime, theater, and other dance forms to create an informed and unique artistic ...
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Hana Rutka
As freelance dance artist, Hana has worked with a range of choreographers and collaborators, and has appeared in productions with Ne. Sans, Voirelia, and Plastic Orchid Factory. Hana creates and performs as an offering; an invitation to reflect, to feel deeply...
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Kaya Tsurumi
Kaya Tsurumi is a freelance dancer, dance filmmaker, and choreographer. She has danced in projects across Vancouver, New York, and Japan, performing with Sidra Bell Dance New York, Ziyian Kwan/Odd Meridian Arts, Conan Amok, Shion Skye Carter, among others. Her...
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Max Hanic
As a queer artist, his interests are in the vitality of movement, and performance as a practice of self-actualization. For Max, performance and engaging with his body’s deep listening and transmutative capacity is an act of self affirmation and self love, ...
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Nathan Coburn
Nathan Coburn is a choreographer, dancer, performer, and artist. Their individual and collective co-creations have been presented by Vines Art Society, Belle Spirale’s Dance Deck, and Kokoro Dance. They are a founder and co-artistic director of Paper Rabbits...
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Palak Dhiman
Palak Dhiman is a Vancouver based Kathak dance artist who has been training in the art form since 1993 in both India and Canada. She has performed in several stage productions with dance companies in Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Edmonton. Palak has also transitioned ...
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GUIDELINES AND HOW TO APPLY FOR 12 MINUTES MAX
Eligibility
- Applicants must be Full Artist or Company members of The Dance Centre.
- The applicant must be the author and primary creator of the work/idea.
- Proposed works must be in the early stages of development: finished works are not eligible.
- This program is geared towards emerging artists but is also open to any artist experimenting with new directions in their practice.
- All dance forms and choreographic styles are welcome.
- Emerging artists must have completed a recognized professional dance training program, or the equivalent.
Tips for Applying
Artists should provide:
- A brief biography/artist profile
- Short bios of collaborators, if any
- A SHORT description (500 words max) of the research/idea you are interested in working on during 12 Minutes Max.
DID YOU KNOW?
The original 12 Minutes Max concept was pioneered in 1979 by On the Boards in Seattle. In 1994 The Dance Centre launched a Vancouver edition which for over fifteen years provided an opportunity for artists to show eclectic and innovative new works that ran under twelve minutes. The program was relaunched in its current format in 2014.