LiftOff Residency
The LiftOff Residency takes place at NDA’s Studio in Tribeca and provides six New York City physical-based performance artists with a minimum of 36 hours of rehearsal space, a $500 stipend, and two feedback sessions. The sessions take place Fall/Winter November-January and Spring March-May.
LiftOff panelists: Mia Martelli, x, Alexa West, Nicholas Rodrigues
LiftOff Residency Artists Fall/Winter 2022/2023
LiftOff Residency Artists Spring 2023
Feedback sessions will either be in-person or on Zoom, depending on the state of the pandemic. They are designed to share about the creative process and project development and participate in a community exchange. “Dance work” doesn’t always have to be presented, it can be a time to talk about what you’re curious about or currently working on. LiftOff Artists will meet with NDA Executive Director, Karen Bernard or NDA Facilitator/Artist, Jil Guyon, at the beginning of the residency period to meet and schedule feedback sessions.
Interested artists must comply with studio regulations:
- No loud music, no live music.
- Barefoot dancing only.
- Props only upon approval.
- No more than four participants per artist/company
- Due to the ongoing pandemic, all artists must be fully vaccinated by the start of the residency.
The studio is available Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm. Since the studio is located within a private loft, NDA aims to book only 5 hours of rehearsal per day. While space may be available on the studio calendar, if an artist(s) has already booked 5 hours, no more rehearsals can be booked on that day. Please find more details about the studio here.
The LiftOff Residency offers a $500 stipend. If you are able, please consider making a donation to support the continuation and development of our programs.
Past LiftOff Artists are not eligible to apply.
Past Artists

evan ray suzuki, photo by Chris Gurinsky
- 2022 (spring): Malcolm-x Betts, K.J. Holmes, Rafael Cañals Pérez, Alexa West
- 2021: Mia Martelli, Nick Alselmo, x
- 2020: Nami Yamamoto, Marion Spencer, Anh Vo, Camilo Godoy, Molly&Nola
- 2019: Denisa Musilova, Maho Ogawa, Emily Smith, Erik Abbott-Main, Susanne McHugh, Javier Padilla, Catie Leasca, Elena Rose Light, Stuart Meyers
- 2018: Dorian Nuskind-Oder, Stacy Grossfield Dance Projects, Christopher Unpezverde Núñez, Moriah Evans
- 2017: Oren Barnoy, Millie Kapp, Antonio Ramos, Gabrielle Revlock, Urša Sekirnik
- 2016: Ashley A. Friend, Alice Klugherz, Thea Little, Yara Travieso
- 2015: Lindy Fines, Barbara Mahler, Mersiha Mesihovic
- 2014: Sita Frederick, Malcolm Low, Johanna Meyers, Christopher Williams
- 2013: Diana Crum, Rebecca Lloyd Jones, Prentice Whitlow
- 2012: Michael Freeman, Jil Guyon, Michael Samama
LiftOff receives support from New York State Arts Council, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mertz-Gilmore Foundation.