Shockout Conference 2024

Making Money; sustainability and profitability in the dance ecosystem.

The landscape of the industry shifted in 2020, the pandemic saw the devastation to the sector with many artists, professionals and students temporarily and permanently stepping away from their careers and training. However, many persevered and found the lockdowns opportunity to build their brands, utilise new technologies, develop their practice, and of course post on Tik Tok.

As the sector rebuilds live performances, a new  landscape for dance is evolving. We are seeing a rise in commercially trained and attuned students putting themselves and their social beliefs front and centre. Professionals are questioning big producers. Diversity and inclusion are finally having impact on what we see in both live and digital material and we are seeing the monetisation of dance across multiple mediums.

As institutions and artists, we are seeing our students and colleagues question the notions of artist as commodity, what is real/true & self. Phrases like industry norm and readiness have different meanings across the sector, so what do they actually mean? And finally there is a growth in the commercial sector, but is it sustainable and who does it profit?

With these thoughts in mind, we are asking for provocations, presentations and workshops for the main conference event and a group of artists to participate in a creative lab around these notions for the first Shockout Arts conference.

Date : Wednesday  12th June 2024

Time : 9.30AM – 19.30PM

Location : Valo Building, Brian Statham Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0PU

Key Dates

• Submission deadline – Friday 19^th April 2024
• Acceptance decision – Wednesday 8^th May 2024
• Notification – Friday  10^th  May 2024
• Registration opens Friday – 10^th May 2024, closes Wednesday 5^th June 2024

Format of submissions

For the presentations, workshops and poster & panel discussions we would like a 250-word (max) abstract on the theme, submitted to Lindseybrocklebank@weareshockout.com  by 6.00pm 19th April 2024. 

For the Creative Lab we would like artists/creatives to submit a CV and 2 min dance footage (showing style/genre etc) and incorporating a 30-60 sec vlog on how this theme impacts you as an artist/creative, submitted to Lindseybrocklebank@weareshockout.com  by 6.00pm 19th April 2024.

Core sessions  

• 20 min presentation + 10 min Q&A 
• 15 min presentation + 5 min Q&A 
• 45 min workshop with 15 min reflection 

Panel  

15 min provocations  

Poster  

AO size poster on the theme of the conference

Creative Lab –

by application process for 15-20 artists to play, create and consider the notion of performer as commodity, with a sharing at the end of the day

Areas of Interest  

• Commercial Dance 
• Challenging social beliefs 
• Industry ready 
• Industry Norms 
• Equality, Inclusivity & Diversity 
• Pedagogy 
• Multi-disciplinary works 
• Education, policy and practice 
• Commercial dance  
• Training V’s Practice  
• Choreography and Devising  
• Codified dance 
• Dance from the Global Majority  
• Dance and Screen/Digital Dance 
• Money/Commercial 
• Aesthetics 
• Employability 
• Social & Popular dance  

Tickets are £20/£10 students and will be available from 10th May 2024 via Eventbrite, link to follow