Our Voice Network, in partnership with Ballet Cymru, are launching the 2025 Our Voice Bursary which will support two artists of the Global Majority to develop as choreographers and to build connections in the arts sector in Wales to lead to touring and presenting opportunities for their work.
The 2025 Our Voice Bursary recipients will be chosen through an open selection process seeking those with a rigorous, equitable choreographic practice for public benefit with less than two years’ experience in touring their work.
Successful recipients will be supported for one year (September 2025 – August 2026) in the following ways:
- monthly mentoring sessions with Ballet Cymru staff to support their development as choreographers;
- support from artist and Our Voice Network founder Krystal S. Lowe, including application and CV writing, feedback on ideas, finding jobs and opportunities, and building connections with people in the arts sector to support ongoing career development;
- a public showcase of their work in the 2026 Our Voice Sharing held at Ballet Cymru, produced by Krystal S. Lowe; and
- a £600 bursary to support expenses and time to develop their art-form.
Ballet Cymru will also endeavour to support the 2025 Our Voice Bursary recipients to take part in paid work placements and choreographic opportunities throughout the year, at Ballet Cymru or elsewhere.
Applications for the 2025 Our Voice Bursary will open on Monday 31 March 2025 and close on Monday 30 June 2025.
Launching the 2025 Our Voice Bursaries, Krystal S. Lowe said: “Dance has always been close to my heart, so this year’s bursary being focused on developing choreographers feels particularly exciting! All around me I see incredible dance makers, and through this year’s bursary – in partnership with Ballet Cymru – I hope to support Welsh dance makers to present their work for the public. Through this focused year exploring self-producing dance and making solid connections with venues throughout Wales and beyond, it is my hope that the 2025 Our Voice Bursary will yield that much more dance for all to see!”
Darius James, Artistic Director of Ballet Cymru, said: “Ballet Cymru are excited to be partnering with Our Voice Network and to be combining our shared skills and experiences to further develop opportunities for choreographers in Wales. We will be offering mentorship, studio time, funds and paid opportunities to support two choreographers to explore ideas and create new work, and we look forward to sharing this with the wider sector.”