Dance Source Houston’s Artist-in-Residence program is open to Greater Houston dance artists of all genres. Artists are selected based upon their desire to push themselves and their work to new levels by taking risks and maximizing their time in the residency. The residency culminates with performances of new work created during Barnstorm Dance Fest. A maximum of three artists are selected for each AIR cohort.

We are not currently accepting applications. Applications for the 2024-25 cohort will open in May 2024. 

Meet the 2023-24 Artists In Residence

Tarika Nath is a Kathak dancer, performing artist, and dance educator based in Houston, Texas. She trained for 15 years under Guru Smt. Shiva Mathur, achieving the prestigious Kathak Pranam Certificate in 2015. She then completed additional training in Kalashram (Delhi, India) under the late Padmavibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj and Vidushi Saswati Sen, the world’s leading exponents in Kathak dance. Currently, Tarika is the Assistant Director of Shivangini Academy of Arts where she leads choreography at the largest Kathak school in Houston.

Tarika’s solo and ensemble works have been featured in prestigious venues across North America. Most recently, she was selected to be a part of Silambam Houston’s YUVA 2023 Cohort and produced “Avikathita” – an original full-length production – at the Marie Spence Flickinger Fine Arts Center. She has performed in Madison Square Garden (NYC) and Wortham Center (Houston) with Kalashram Delhi’s touring company for “Romeo and Juliet.” In 2017, She portrayed the lead role in the Indian-adaptation of “Cinderella” by Shivangini Academy. Selected for the first ever New York Kathak Festival in 2019, Tarika produced solo work at Alvin Ailey Theatre (NYC). She later choreographed multiple pieces at Native East Studios (Toronto) for the Sadhana/Tarana Emerging Artist Series in 2022. Since then, her choreographies have also been showcased at MATCH, Hobby Center, and UT Austin.

Tarika’s dancing utilizes the unique intricacies of the Lucknow Gharana to highlight contemporary themes within traditional storytelling.

Lauren Serrano is originally from Southern California. She attended Orange County High School for the Performing Arts for classical and commercial dance. Lauren graduated from University of California Santa Barbara with a B.F.A. in dance, and later received her Masters in Dance Education from Hunter College in 2015. While pursuing her passion in dance education she was fortunate to perform professionally with Santa Barbara Dance Theater in California.

Lauren has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Jennifer Muller, Young Soon Kim, Andrea Schermolly, Yusha Sorzano, Christopher Pilafian, Nancy Colahan, Stephanie Miracle, Brandon Whited, Edgar Zendejas, Pedro Ruiz, Mike Esperanza, Joshua Manculich, Francisco Graciano and Take Ueyama. Lauren recently graduated from Sam Houston State University with her M.F.A. While attending SHSU her self-choreographed solo “UNTITLED” won choreography awards including being nominated to represent the school at American College Dance Association and was selected to perform at the ACDA Gala performance. Her choreographic work has been selected to perform in festivals in California, New York, and at Barnstorm Dance Fest in Texas. She currently dances with NobleMotion Dance and co-directs NMD2 while serving as an adjunct professor in the Department of Dance at SHSU.

Jadd Tank’s passion for choreography and dance lies in the exploration of boundless possibilities in which objects, bodies and events relate to each other: the spaces we create and the identities that spaces create for us. Nurtured by the cultural intersection of Lebanese and Midwestern traditions, Jadd approaches contemporary performance art and creation with an aesthetic that reflects a versatile mélange – Mediterranean culture, dramaturgy, architecture and postmodern movement techniques.

Jadd Tank’s recent work includes Glimpses of a Future by Yaraqa (as a creative producer, choreographer, and performer) – now available on Netflix; The digital videos at the Dubai World EXPO 2021 Lebanese Pavilion (as a choreographer and product design lead); & dance theater performance titled “3rd Body” which has toured in Houston, New York City & Lebanon between 2020-present.

In addition to touring and performing internationally for award winning choreographers such as Michelle Ellsworth, Alias Guilherme Botelho and Maqamat Dance Theater, Jadd has choreographed for stage and film including director Susan Youssef’s feature film Marjoun & The Flying Headscarf (2021 Academy Award Consideration), & Music videos of Vladimir Kurumilian & Mashrou’ Leila, and Design House T Sakhi.

See more of his work at jaddtank.com or @jadd_tank

Residency artists receive:

  • Access to professional development workshops
  • Production and marketing plan assistance
  • Grant application writing assistance
  • Guaranteed performance spot in Barnstorm Dance Fest
  • $4,000 Residency stipend (May be used for studio/ rehearsal space, artistic fees, costuming, additional professional/ creative development, etc.)

Please note that this year’s residency program does not have a prescribed amount of studio time nor an assigned studio space. Through cohort learning we made the decision to divert more of the program resources directly to the artist to allow them more agency in crafting a space solution that works best for their individual residency goals.

Tempest McLendon’s “dih-loo-zuhn” // Photo by Lynn Lane

Tempest McLendon's "dih-loo-zuhn" // Photo by Lynn Lane

Residency artists will be required to:

  • Attend monthly meetings and feedback sessions with other resident artists October 2022 – May 2023 schedule for Sunday afternoons 3pm – 6pm at Houston Met Dance (October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 10, March 24, April 14, and May 12)
  • Attended professional development workshops scheduled for Monday evenings 7 – 9pm at MATCH (October 2, December 4, January 22, February 19, and March 18)
  • Execute deadlines on production/marketing plan, press release, project budget and other residency related documents
  • Create 10-15 minutes of new work to present at Barnstorm Dance Fest in June 2024
  • Be available for tech/production week for culminating performances May 28-June 2, 2024
Loren Holmes’ “Mother, May I?” // Photo by Lynn Lane

Eligibility

  • Must be a dance artist currently based in the Greater Houston regionas defined by Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.
  • Must be 18 or older and not currently enrolled in an academic program.
  • Artists must be current Dance Source Houston members at the Danceworker level or above. If selected, membership must be upgraded to the Independent Choreographer level or applicant must be the artistic leadership of a Dance Organization member company.
  • Artist may not have previously been a DSH Artist In Residence.
Keeley Dunnam's "Into The Shimmer" // Photo by Lynn Lane
Keeley Dunnam’s “Into The Shimmer” // Photo by Lynn Lane

Former AIRs include Shanon Adame, Joel Aguilera, Jacquelyne Jay Boe, Adam Castaneda, Roberta Paixao Cortes, Keeley Dunnam, Amy Elizabeth, Ayan Felix, Rivkah French, Lindsay Gary, Kirstin Grbic, Laura Harrell, Lisa Harris, Jasmine Hearn, Loren Holmes, Ashley Horn, Laura Gutierrez, Abijan Johnson, Autumn Knight, Ty Lewis, Jennifer Mabus, Tempest McLendon, Alisa Mittin, Kemi OG, Kate Rash, Joel Rivera, Jakari Sherman, Kalpana Subbarao, Felicia Thomas, Heather vonReichbauer, Lori Yuill and Uwazi Zamani.