Residencies & Teachers
If you are an Artist who would like to apply for a Residency at Dragons Egg:
In keeping with the Mission Statement for the Dragon’s Egg, retreat opportunities are offered to artists throughout the year. The space best serves physical artists – dancers, actors, puppeteers, sometimes musicians – though others may be considered. The space is offered for free to artists on retreat. Residencies typically run from two days to 9 days. It is the responsibility of the resident to provide transportation and food et al for the duration of the stay, though the Beasts will help as they can (for example, there is an old Olds that is sometimes available for borrowing, and there may be tomatoes growing in the environs, and a swimming hole may provide for some summer amusement). There is no funding, but if the artist can include the Egg in any grant applications, that would be greatly appreciated.
Artists must submit a proposal to mybeasts@aol.com, or
Mystic Paper Beasts
8 Hancox St.
Stonington, CT 06378
The application is then forwarded to the Board of Trustees for their approval. This process generally takes no more than ten days.
The proposal should include:
- who you are
- the nature and intent of the activity
- who you will bring
- any contact/recommending information
- the desired time period -with a second choice as well.
This should be submitted in the body of an email, though documents can be attached, as well. The Board will review and approve (or not) within ten days. The artist is asked to then be in touch with mybeasts once again, after the ten days, to see what the outcome of the proposal might have been. Easy.
Artists who have been in residence are asked to credit the Beasts in programmes and publicity. We also ask that the artist submit a short summary of the experience of being at the Egg, its benefits. Some artists may wish to present a portion of a work in progress for public viewing, and the Beasts will help to publicize and support this offering. Thus the Egg will also benefit a larger and unsuspecting community of audience!
If you are interested in teaching/presenting a Workshop or Class at the Egg
The Dragon’s Egg is available for classes and for short term workshops for which the presenter charges a fee. In this case the Beasts collect $10 per hour or 15% of the collected fee, whichever is higher, or per negotiation. The subject of such workshops must be in the field of the performing arts, or of practices that might support the health and well being of the performing artist. Workshops that may benefit the community at large may be also considered, and should be in the fields of dance, acting, dream, therapy, yoga, and such.
Potential presenters must submit a proposal, as above, describing the nature and intent of the activity, the qualifications of the presenter, the desired time slot, the fee to be charged, the minimum/maximum number of participants, and proof of liability insurance. The proposal is submitted to mybeasts@aol.com, and is then forwarded to the Board, who retain the right to accept or reject any proposal without identifying a reason for their decision.
Once an applicant is approved, they are responsible for creating their own class. The Dragon’s Egg is not a presenter, though any announcement regarding a class or workshop will be willingly sent out by the Beasts. Each presenter is responsible for the care and upkeep of the Egg, and for replacement of materials used. Please see the guidelines for use of the Egg.
Amenities of the Egg
The Dragon’s Egg is the rehearsal space recently built by the Mystic Paper Beasts Theatre Company. It is a freestanding, hexagonal building sited at the end of a tree encircled field in the countryside of Ledyard, Ct. The studio space measures 2,000 square feet. The floor is a sprung floor with subfloor heating. An additional 1200 sq. ft. comprises the living, changing, shower space. There are available a television/vcr, an upright piano, a rice cooker, coffee maker, small refrigerator, and two swings.
Residents and presenters are reminded that the space is in regular use, and residents are asked to respect this use by either by being quiet in the living spaces of the Egg, or by going for a walk, or by vacating the premises at the time of a class to go for dinners or outings in the area. The Beasts use the space for their own rehearsal and training. Regular classes in belly dance, yoga, African dance, children’s dance, and other, are offered throughout the weeks. Marya also teaches weekly yoga classes in the space, year round, and the Beasts occasionally offer public workshops in mask and performance.
