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Dear friends, mentors, chosen family and folks I have not met yet:
My name is Eshan Rafi and I am a performance and visual artist, based in Tkaronto/ Toronto and raised in Tkaronto/Toronto and Lahore. I started taking dance classes with a queer multiracial dance company, ILL NA NA, when I was in my early 20s. Since then I have sought out workshops, residencies and diy spaces for movement research, improvisation, somatics, and more, but physical health challenges kept me from being as immersed in dance spaces as I would have liked. Now in my late 30s, I applied to participate in danceWEB, a unique and prestigious residency program for emerging choreographers and dancers, and I was accepted.
I wish for less competition and more sustainability for all artists, and at the same time it is relevant to share that I was chosen out of 600 applicants from all over the world, making up a cohort of 50 other danceWEB scholars for 2025. My intention in attending danceWEB is to stay attuned to the intellectual, emotional and imaginative work I am here to do, while learning from and growing with a diverse group of dance practitioners. Attending this program will allow me to make the performance work I dream of making in the future, and set me up with networks and resources that will last a lifetime.
The danceWEB Scholarship Programme is a 5-week residency, taking place every year in July/August within the frame of ImPulsTanz - Vienna international Dance Festival. The project offers participants the possibility to experience an intense multinational further training program in the field of Contemporary Dance and Performance. Artistic mentors, selected amongst renowned choreographers, whose work have a major impact on the development of contemporary dance on an international level, accompany the program.
Each participant needs to raise 2500 EUR towards the full cost of the program. I am asking my wider community for financial support in making this happen.
Your contributions will go towards the following:
danceWEB fee: 2500 EUR / 2880 USD / 4000 CAD
Roundtrip flight, Toronto - Vienna: 950 EUR / 1090 USD / 1500 CAD
Meals for 5 weeks: 630 EUR / 730 USD / 1000 CAD
Travel Health Insurance: 200 EUR / 220 USD / 300 CAD
My total ask is for 4300 EUR / 4950 USD / 6800 CAD.
We are living through terrible times, and I greatly appreciate if you choose to support me in this way, knowing that there is a great amount of need everywhere. You can support by contributing financially, as well as sharing my fundraiser on social media and to colleagues who might specifically be able or willing to contribute.
Every share, mention, and like can make a difference in making this campaign successful.
In gratitude and solidarity,
Eshan ✨