​​​​​​Donna has mentored many artists and practitioners over the years and many of those artists have been successful at getting grants to support their mentorship.

 

Some mentorships have included:

• Dancers who wanted to learn more about Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Studies and how it could support their development as a dancer. 

• Movement practitioners who wanted to learn more about Developmental Movement or Bartenieff Fundamentals to support their embodied practice. 

• Dance Teachers who wanted to do Somatic Dance Teacher Training (This has a set curriculum, see below for more information).

• Choreographers who wanted support as an outside eye in somatic dance projects. 

• Actors who wanted to learn about Laban's Efforts and how they could be brought into their expressive movement practice.

• Teachers who wanted to learn how to teach creative dance to children. 

• A wheelchair dancer who was looking for support in the choreographic process.

• A professional actor in the movie industry who wanted to learn how Laban movement studies could support their movement expression. 

• Dance artists who wanted to learn about dance composition through a somatic process. 

• Dance artists who want a somatic-based dance choreographed for them  - dancers can learn while in process, meaning that it is not just a piece choreographed 'on' the dancer but rather a piece created in relation with the dancer learning more about somatic process(es) while being in the creative process. 

• Artists who work with embodiment and are looking to integrate somatics into creative process. 

These professional development mentorships are for already practicing professional artists, dancers, teachers, or movement specialists who have a specific project or goal in mind. Mentees should know what it is they want to hone-in on to support their growth and learning. 

 

Mentorships can take place within a 3-month period or up to a max of a 2yr period. All mentorships must be within a specific time frame, with a clear intentions and goals, for Donna to consider.

 

The minimum number of hours in a mentorship with Donna should be around 25hrs, and the maximum number of hours can be up to 150 (or more), if the schedule is feasible. You can also hire Donna by the hour (if what you require is less than 25 hours). If this is the case there is no need to apply for a 'formal' mentorship  - simply just hire Donna by the hour.
 

What if I am interested in a mentorship? Where do I begin?

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1) Take some time to envision what it is you are hoping to learn and develop. Do some research or practice first, if needed. For example, if you are wanting to bridge Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies into your practice take an introductory Laban course and an introductory Bartenieff course first, or if you are wanting to bridge somatics into your dance practice enrol in some somatic-based dance classes first. Remember that mentorships are about diving deeper into something!

2)  Update your CV and write a 1-2  page synopsis of your intention and vision. In this synopsis include your current practice and what you want to specifically hone in in the mentorship with Donna in order to support your professional development and/ or practice. 

3 ) Determine a projected timeline and an approximate number of hours.

4) Determine a projected budget and how you will get funding. Do you have the funds for a mentorship or will you need to apply for a grant? If you need to apply for a grant find out when the grant deadlines are. 

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5) Then send all to Donna by email:

• ​​CV (or your website address)

• Intention and vision of mentorship (1-2 page synopsis)

• General projected timeline (does not need to include specific dates)

• An idea of how you will fund the mentorship and how many hours your budget can afford.​

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If you need to do a 15 min complimentary phone (or zoom) call with Donna before you begin the above process feel free to email Donna here to arrange a time. 

 

Please note:

An administrative fee is applied for anything beyond the 15 min consultation. This would include:

• proofing and editing of grant letters

• offering advice and guidance on how you might shape the specifics of your mentorship

 

If Donna accepts your mentorship:

She may write you a letter of intent (acceptance) for the funding body you are applying for (if required). 

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