▶Program Information
▶Program Concept

▶Application Guidelines
▶How to Apply

▶Information
-About Dancebox
-About “Shinnagata”
-About “Shitamachi Art Festival”

 

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[Program Information]

Target:  Artist working in performing arts

Dates of Residency:  18^th September 2025 -23^rd October 2025

*Final dates will be adjusted in coordination with the artists.

Location: Studio PLOW and other venue (alternative locations may be arranged based on project needs).

Residency Overview: Participants will engage in creative research and production over approximately one month, culminating in a presentation at the Shitamachi Art Festival 2025.

 

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[Program Concept]

DANCE BOX welcomes applications for residency projects exploring the theme:
“Transformations in Arts and Folk Performing Arts Due to Cultural Mobility.”

In shaping your proposal, we encourage you to consider the Shin-Nagata area and the broader artistic context of the Shitamachi Art 2025.
We are particularly interested in projects examining cultural transformations, folk arts, and everyday life, as well as opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and dialogue.

We look forward to receiving unique proposals that contribute new perspectives to these discussions.

 

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[Application Guidelines]

Number of applicants: 1 Artist

Eligibility & Activities:

Researchers focusing on performing arts may also apply, depending on project alignment.

Open to artists working in performing arts.

The residency output may take the form of performances, installations, events, talks, video screenings,
zine  productions,and other formats. This will be finalized through discussions between the artist and DANCE BOX.

Artists may present past works as part of their residency, depending on the project’s concept.

Residency Schedule:

September 18, 2025 – October 23, 2025

*Dates may shift slightly based on coordination with DANCE BOX.

*Output schedule will be decided in coordination with DANCE BOX

“Shitamachi Art Festival 2025”
October 18 – November 3, 2025

 

Application Requirements:

1. Applicants must reside outside Japan and must not be Japanese citizens.

2. The artist must conduct at least one workshop for local residents during their stay.

3. The artist must be self-sufficient in planning and executing their project.

4. The artist must be in good physical and mental health.

5. DANCE BOX does not provide insurance—artists are responsible for securing their own coverage.

6. Artists are expected to maintain positive relations with neighbors, fellow residents, locals, and festival staff.

7. The artist must sign an agreement to comply with the residency and production terms in Shin-Nagata.

8. A post-residency debriefing session will be held upon the artist’s return

 

Support Provided:

1. Travel & Lodging: Airfare (up to ¥150,000), accommodation, airport transportation, and a daily allowance (¥5,500/day).

2. Production Support: Venue, staff, and promotional support for the artist’s output at the Shitamachi Art Festival.

3. Project Funding: Up to ¥150,000 for necessary materials (expenses reimbursed upon submission of receipts).

4. Workspace: Studio PLOW and other venues (spaces may be shared with other artists and programs; alternative venues may be arranged).

5. Access to DANCE BOX programs: Artists can attend dance performances hosted by DANCE BOX free of charge.

 

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[How to Apply]

Application Period: June 9 – July 7, 2025 (applications received outside this period will not be considered).

 

Application Process

Step 1: By July 7, submit your application form and profile/activity photo via email.
(Limit: Up to two applications per person—additional submissions will not be reviewed.)

Step 2: A confirmation email will be sent upon receiving your application. If no response is received within three days, please contact DANCE BOX.

Step 3: By July 15, document screening results will be emailed.

Step 4: July 17–19, online interviews with shortlisted applicants.

Step 5: By July 24, final selection results will be announced via email.

 

Submission Details

Download the application form (max. 2 pages).
➡Click here to download (Word format)

Attach up to three profile/activity photos (max. 2MB).

 

Submit materials via email to:
info-db@db-dancebox.org

 

Organizer & Contact

NPO DANCE BOX (Contact: Fumi Yokobori)
📞 +81-(0)78-646-7044
✉ info-db@db-dancebox.org

 

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[Information about Residence Sites]

DANCE BOX:

DANCE BOX is a non-profit organization based in ArtTheater dB KOBE, a small theater in Shin-Nagata, Kobe.
Through the power of dance and cultural arts, we aim to create a society where diverse people can coexist harmoniously.

Our organization conducts artistically unique programs, including:

・Dance performances and workshops

・Training for emerging choreographers and dancers

・Programs nurturing children’s creativity

・International exchange initiatives with overseas artists

・Collaborations with local communities

Additionally, we coordinate regional projects that introduce dance artists to various locations throughout Japan.

 

Shin-Nagata:

Shin-Nagata, home to NPO Dance Box, is situated in southern Nagata-ku, in the south-central part of Kobe City.
Its southernmost area features an active fishing port, Nagata Port.

Historically, Nagata Ward has been a key contributor to Kobe’s economy, serving as a center for heavy industry and manufacturing—particularly match production, rubber processing, and chemical shoes.
Shin-Nagata was dotted with chemical factories and wholesale stores, wooden houses and row houses where the workers lived, and a “downtown” with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, as well as a shopping district.

Currently, the population stands at just over 90,000, with rapid aging demographics.
Additionally, vacant houses and land are increasing, presenting regional revitalization challenges.
Shin-Nagata has long been home to immigrant communities from Amami, Korea, Vietnam, Nepal, and other regions.
The area was severely affected by the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, shaping its contemporary identity.

What is the role of a theater in a region with these aspects?

Since its establishment, DANCE BOX has produced a number of contemporary dance productions and artists, and by producing pioneering and experimental works in its 100-seat small theater, it has played a role in creating a new identity for the next generation.

 

Shitamachi Arts Festival 2025

The Shitamachi Art Festival is an art festival held every two years in Nagata Ward, Kobe. It was launched in 2015, 20 years after the earthquake, mainly in the Shin-Nagata area, which was severely damaged by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The Shitamachi Art Festival aims to present the charm of this area, which experienced the disaster and is a mixture of various cultures, to local residents and visitors through the unique perspectives and artworks of the artists. The festival is also unique in that it is run by a group of local store owners, creators, artists, and NPOs.

 

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Organizer: NPO Dance Box
Supported by: Agency for Cultural Affairs, FY 2025 Artist-in-Residence Community Collaboration Support Project