The Department of Culture of San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Council is pleased to announce the XII Choreography Contest within the 12MASDANZA INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL OF THE CANARY ISLANDS, 20 - 27 October 2007 in Maspalomas- Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), Spain.

The International Contemporary Dance Festival of the Canary Islands, MASDANZA, was born in Gran Canaria, in 1996. It is the result of the initiative of choreographer / teacher Natalia Medina with the support of the Department of Culture of the Municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The Department recognised and supported this initiative, with the intention of covering an important cultural space that had not been included previously in the agenda of any public or private institution in the Canaries.

Since its first beginnings in 1996, MASDANZA has consolidated itself year after year, going from a small regional festival, to national by the second, and then on to international from its sixth edition until now, its eleventh edition, spreading beyond our national borders and now open to the participation of international choreographers and dancers.

MASDANZA has grown as an event that every year acquires more strength and prestige outside the borders of our community, allowing the public to see that there are alternatives in Gran Canaria, other than just “sun and beach”. The most convincing evidence of this fact is the increasing number of public attending every edition of the Festival. Thanks to their interest in discovering new creators and trends, this Festival has become a leader in the national and international arenas.

PRIZES

First prize: 4.000 EUROS.

Second prize: 3.000 EUROS.

Third prize: 2.000 EUROS.

Public’s prize: 1000 EUROS

Prize for the most outstanding performer*: 1500 EUROS

Prize for the most outstanding Canarian performer*: 700 EUROS
and a scholarship to study at "Espacio Madrid" run by ACPD.
(To opt to this prize the participant must be native from or resident in the Canary Islands).

* These prizes are valid for the Choreography Contest as well as for the Solo Contest.

3 SPECIAL PRIZES

The Organisation works with programming managers and with national and international festivals for the participation of the winners in their programmes. In any case the programming managers will select the piece/pieces that better suit their interests.

4 CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

Participation is open to choreographers of any nationality. They will be able to participate with original pieces or pieces created and premiered from 1st January 2005.

The choreographic pieces must be performed by a minimum of THREE (3) dancers and a maximum of FIVE (5).

The duration of the piece must NOT be less than TEN minutes NOR go over FIFTEEN minutes.

The choreographies that do not respect these time limits may be disqualified.

The selection for the Choreography Contest, which will be carried out by a special committee, will take place as follows:

The choreographers must send a DVD with the recording of the whole piece (without cuts and from a fixed pan shot), with all the performers.

This recording is to contain the final piece and all the elements of the set.

The recordings that are of no good viewing quality may be rejected.

Once the selection has been carried out, no changes to the basic structure of the choreography nor to the set used will be allowed.

The Organisation will keep all the videos received for its documentation record. Nevertheless, if a participant should wish to have his/her material back, all the expenses incurred in returning it will be on the participant’s account.

The Organisation will cover the participants' accommodation costs and will help with a travel grant for each selected group in accordance with the country of origin:

- The Canary Islands (except Gran Canaria): 300 euros
- Europe: 800 euros
- Rest of the world: 1200 euros

Important Note: The travel grant is an amount fixed for each group as a help towards the purchase of the tickets to attend the festival. It’s an amount per group, not per participant.

The deadline for receiving all the documentation is the 30th of JUNE 2007 (postmark on package).

The Organisation will notify the results of the selection from the 17th of JULY 2007.

5 THE JURY

The jury will consist of national and international professionals and experts in the stage and performing arts and it reserves the right to declare any prize void (except the public’s prize). If the jury considers to award a prize exaequo, the amount will be divided among the pieces concerned.

The jury and the selection committee will apply the following assessment criteria to the choreographic pieces taking part: originality, inventive capacity, innovation and risk in the design, realisation of the choreographic ideas, use of the choreographic and dance languages, use of the stage and its elements as well as the use of the music.

6 TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The groups selected to participate in 12MASDANZA must confirm their attendance to the festival within five days of receiving confirmation of their selection. Otherwise they might be disqualied.

Each group will bring a stage manager or technician, who will be in the control room with the theatre technicians.

Due to technical, space and time limitations, the lighting effects and the set have to be minimal. The elements of the set should be able to be put in place quickly. Elements of large dimensions or difficult to install must be avoided. This material must be provided and transported by the participants themselves.

Due to the specific limitations of the theatre, no element may be hung from the poles or at the back.

Pieces where water or other liquids are spilt or where elements need to be cleaned afterwards, therefore disrupting the smooth running of the programme, will not be admitted.

The Organisation shall not be liable for any physical or material damage sustained or caused by the participants during the Festival, including the loss or theft of objects and personal belongings.

The winning choreographies will always be announced in programmes, press, posters, etc. as “1st, 2nd or 3rd prize winner of 12MASDANZA (XII International Contemporary Dance Festival of the Canary Islands)".

The participant expressly exempts MASDANZA, The International Contemporary Dance festival of The Canary Islands, of any obligation of any copyright, assuming the participant all the responsibility and obligation that his/her activity might create with any such rights.

The choreographers of the participating pieces will give over to the Organisation the image, recording and audiovisual broadcasting rights of the pieces. The Organisation will use these rights exclusively for informative, educational and cultural purposes.

All prizes are subject to be taxed as estipulated by the legislation in force.

The Management of MASDANZA will be in charge of ruling on any issue not covered herein.

Participation in the 12MASDANZA INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL OF THE CANARY ISLANDS means the full acceptance of these conditions.

7 DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED

- Inscription form duly filled in (available on www.masdanza.com)
- DVD of the complete and definitive piece.
The title of the piece and the choreographer must be perfectly indicated on the cover
as well as on the inside of the DVD.
- Curriculum Vitae and a photograph of the choreographer
- Brief synopsis of the piece
- Optional: Informative material about the piece and the choreographer (photographs,
posters, press...)

NOTE: For customs purposes, it is advisable to assign the material a symbolic commercial value of no more than 3 euros and clarify that the material is of a cultural nature. In any case, it is the responsibility of the participant to foresee and settle any expense incurred in the customs dispatch.

All this documentation must be sent before the 30th of JUNE 2007 to:

12MASDANZA – CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST

C/ Cebrian 28 (35003)
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Canary Islands – SPAIN

Tel: (0034) 928 369 004
Fax: (0034) 928 370 749
e-mail: info@masdanza.com
webpage: www.masdanza.com