The R.E.A.C.H. Collective is seeking committed, collaborative, and courageous dancers to join our ensemble for Matriarch, the first full-length evening work by Artistic Director Dominique M. Fontenot, a 2025 NYU Production Lab Dance Development Fellow.

This culminating project will be developed throughout Summer and Fall 2025 and presented in March 2026, offering dancers a unique opportunity to co-collaborate and perform in a work that honors Black womanhood, ancestral strength, and generational wisdom through movement, spoken word, and live instrumentation.

Selected dancers will be expected to participate in September’s Works-in-Progress showing, with a full rehearsal and performance commitment leading up to the March premiere.

Audition Details

• Date: July 19, 2025

• Time: [Insert time]

• Location: [Insert location]

• Attire: All black, form-fitting dance attire. Bare feet or socks preferred.

• What to Expect: A warm-up, improvisation exploration, phrasework from Matriarch, and a brief conversation with Dominique M. Fontenot.

Expectations for Dancers

Audition Day:

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in and warm up.

• Be prepared for group improvisation, phrasework, and guided movement.

• Demonstrate openness to vulnerability, collaboration, and exploration.

If Selected:

• Rehearsal Commitment (Fall 2025 – March 2026)
  Weekly rehearsals begin in August 2025. Dancers must be available for regular evening/weekend rehearsals (1–2 times/week in fall, increasing in the spring).

• September 2025: NYU Fellowship Works-in-Progress Showing
  Dancers must be available to perform in NYU’s Production Lab fellowship showing in early September. This presentation is an early iteration of Matriarch and serves as a developmental milestone for the work.

• February 2026: REACH Collective Works-in-Progress Showing
  Dancers will also participate in REACH’s internal works-in-progress event in February 2026, showcasing a more developed version of the piece prior to the final performance.

• March 2026: Matriarch Full-Length Premiere
  Dancers must be fully available for all tech and performance dates in March 2026. This is the culminating performance of the entire process.

• Attendance & Communication
  More than 2 unexcused absences may result in removal from the project. Consistent attendance, punctuality, and proactive communication are expected.

• Collaborative & Creative Investment
  Dancers must be open to improvisation, ensemble-based work, physical partnering, and emotional storytelling. This process honors themes of lineage, identity, and collective memory.

• Respect & Professionalism
  REACH is a space that centers Black and Brown artistry. Dancers should approach the process with care, cultural sensitivity, and mutual respect for the ensemble and its mission.