Before you can put up any dance performance, you need to address a series of logistical items. You’ll need to book a space, make sure you meet all the theatrical guidelines, get technical help, handle ticketing and publicity, all of this on top of your normal dance rehearsals, so make you start the planning early.
Securing a Space
There are a lot of things to consider when deciding where to perform _ size of stage, cost, lighting, seating, availability, etc. This page discusses the major venues, but it’s important to note that these aren’t the only options. Go to the Undergraduate Production Performance & Rehearsal Venues page for a complete list of on-campus performances spaces. The Harkness Ballroom at the Yale School of Medicine, Sudler Hall in WLH, the Saybrook Underbrook, and Dwight Hall Common Room are all of particular interest because they have been used to host dance shows in the past.
Application for the Off-Broadway Theater, residential colleges, and Co-Op High School theaters is now integrated into the Creative and Performing Art (CPA) Awards application process. Groups not applying for a CPA award may use a centralized application for performance spaces. For either application, students may apply in September for projects proposed in the Fall semester, or that will be produced prior to Spring Recess. Students may apply in January for projects produced at any time during the Spring semester. Students may apply in April for projects produced prior to Fall Recess the following year. The one exception is that all Co-Op bookings are made in the Fall. After each application cycle, remaining time slots, if any, are awarded on a rolling basis.
Technical Matters
The space you use will dictate to what extent you have to worry about things like lighting design and operating a sound board. For example, at the Off-Broadway or Crescent theaters, you will need to recruit a lighting designer, either an undergraduate or a student from the David Geffen School of Drama–contact the Yale Drama Coalition, the Dramat, or leaders of other dance groups for recommendations. Depending upon the complexity of your sound cues, you may also need to find a sound technician to help with your show. Your group will also be responsible for hanging and striking your own light plot, so make sure as many members of your cast as possible attend the Boot Camp workshop sessions offered by Undergraduate Production at the beginning of each semester. (UP workshop calendar here). You will not be allowed to hang lights for your show without proper safety training.
Ticketing
Student groups are encouraged to use YaleConnect to register audience members for events. If you are charging tickets to your performances, then please use the Yale College Arts Eventbrite account to set up your ticketing page. More information on ticketing options is available on the Undergraduate Production website.
Publicity and Promotion
All student arts groups can submit their events and performances to the Yale College Arts Shows and Screenings page. Once published on Yale College Arts, the events will automatically be published on the Yale Arts Calendar and the Yale Calendar of Events.
Performers and groups looking to promote events more broadly across campus, New Haven, and the region may consult the Arts Marketing Handbook. The handbook is a tool for Yale students working in the arts to help them understand and develop the skills to promote their performances and events to audiences within and outside of the Yale community and to create relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.
Download the full handbook here.