Outreach Project Guidelines

Introduction

Many daCi members around the world seek the opportunity to attend a daCi international conference, to benefit from the shared expertise and rich experiences offered, resulting in exchanges and communications. Consequently, daCi has developed an initiative that enables one or more daCi members (host and applicant) to invite a dance teacher/educator (invitee also a daCi member), to visit them in their community/country to facilitate a dance teaching and learning residency.

The purpose of this outreach initiative is to promote:

  • Access to a variety of authentic dance experiences for teachers and young people among daCi and non-daCi communities;
  • Exchange of dance ideas and teaching practices while developing understanding across cultures;
  • Collaboration amongst dance educators within the resident community with a view to increase daCi membership.

The Outreach Project aims are to:

  • Provide opportunities for meaningful relationships and collaborations by creating an ongoing learning process for children, young people, and dance teachers.
  • Generate knowledge regarding dance education and practices through intercultural/interdisciplinary exchange.
  • Foster the development of empathy and connectedness through enhanced intercultural understandings;
  • Build awareness and visibility of dance for children and young people;
  • Increase daCi membership by creating an environment of inclusivity and visibility where non-daCi members may experience and benefit from the daCi network;

What daCi Offers

  • The daCi Outreach Project Fund provides financial assistance of up to $5000, with a minimum guarantee of $1000 CAD, for daCi individuals and/or groups to design and implement dance teaching projects that benefit teachers and young people.
  • Successful applicants may receive instalments of the grant yearly over the years leading up to the triennial daCi conference.

How To Apply

(Host country/community should apply)

  • All applicants must be current daCi members;
  • Host applicants should submit one (1) electronic copy of the Application Form for the daCi Outreach Project to the International Treasurer of daCi; (email: treasurer@daci.international) no later than September 1 of the year prior to the upcoming daCi Conference;
  • Applications in the English language are preferred; however, applications in other languages will be accepted.

Evaluation of Applications

  • daCi Outreach Project Applications will be reviewed and assessed by three members of the daCi Outreach Project Committee which comprises a chair and two evaluators - substitutions may be made as necessary to avoid conflicts of interest;
  • New and emerging as well as more experienced dance teachers/educators will be considered on an equal basis relevant to the proposed outreach project;
  • Applications will be assessed on the overall quality and purpose of the proposed outreach project and alignment with daCi’s key goals;
  • Awards will be made depending upon the availability of funds.

Projects will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Accordance with daCi objectives and developmental appropriateness of the project for participants (see daCi’s vision and mission statements for further information):
  • Significance of the outreach and potential to meet the Outreach Project aims;
  • Clear and thorough description of Outreach Project as per #2 of daCi Outreach Project Application Form;
  • Appropriateness of proposed methodology;
  • Degree of promotion of collaboration and exchange between different nations and cultures;
  • Potential impact of Outreach Project on both national and international levels;
  • Projected contribution of outreach activities in building a cross-cultural knowledge base on children’s/youth dance;
  • Specification and justification of funding requirements.

Announcement of Outreach Project Grant Recipients

All individuals applying for daCi Outreach Project funding will be notified within two months of the application deadline and prior to the daCi conference (which typically occurs the second week of July of the conference year).

Funds may be used for:

  • Travel and accommodation (based on the best rates available);
  • Original invoices and receipts will be required in order to claim any expenses;
  • Funds should be used for only the purposes specified in the application. Please notify the committee if there are proposed changes to those in the original application.

Funds will not normally cover the following:

  • Computer hardware or software that is readily available and commonly used;
  • Equipment purchase (e.g. dvd/cd players, cameras, TV monitors, digital recorders);
  • Other overheads such as meals or employment related expenses.

Guidelines for Outreach Project Grant Recipients

  • daCi Outreach Projects should take place within the 3 years leading up to a triennial daCi international conference. Outreach participants will be in close communication with each other during the project planning period, exchanging ideas and visions for dance education practices. They are required to conduct the outreach project collaboratively, following a framework that they will work out within this collaboration;
  • A final report (format may vary, for example written or digital format) should be submitted once the project has been completed. This report may include a copy of any publications or forthcoming publications resulting from the Outreach Project;
  • Expenditure of Funds: Allocated funds need to be spent by December 31 (of the year in which the conference takes place). Any unused funds need to be returned to daCi. If the funds have not been spent for the purpose for which they were granted, the money must be repaid to daCi;
  • If ethical requirements need to be considered for the Outreach Project, funding will not be supplied until proof of ethical approval is provided.

Successful applicants are obligated to provide daCi with a final report. The final report is due to the daCi Treasurer three months after the completion date specified in the proposal, and shall include:

  • A description and evaluation of the project;
  • A detailed financial report with receipts;
  • Documentation (videotape, newspaper articles, programs, etc.) of the project.

daCi Outreach Projects should culminate in a presentation or formal written report, which may be presented at the upcoming daCi conference. Additionally, the grantees are encouraged to explore other ways of disseminating the results of the Outreach Project.

Further, all public mention of this project must include the following statement:

This project was partially supported by a grant from dance and the Child international (daCi).

Conference Registration

All participants of daCi Outreach Projects, including those who have been supported by daCi funds, must pay the conference registration fee to present the project at the conference. If these conference registration fees are not paid, the Outreach Project will not be shared at the daCi Conference nor recognized by daCi in the associated conference literature.