James Ray residency
Assisting Local Artists:
>>Since 2017, the James Ray Residency Project has been providing Seattle-area based dance artists time and resources to fully develop their work, steward and grow new and current donors and patrons, and create better systems to facilitate the creative-performance cycle. It fosters the local dance ecology and enriches the city’s cultural landscape by helping artists put their best work forward, extend their reach through touring, and help them increase organizational capacity and sustainability.
2026 Artists in Residence
Artists: Pooja Ganesh & Eve Salonen
Tatkaar y Taconeo
Pooja Ganesh is a Kathak dancer and choreographer with 15 years of experience in India and the U.S. She joins flamenco artist Eve Salonen and guitarist‑composer Jed Miley, both longtime contributors to the flamenco arts. Vocalist Erin Lau brings two decades in flamenco cante, while Shivaraj Natraj blends Carnatic music with contemporary global sounds. Seattle‑based multi‑instrumentalist Rishabh, a lifelong sarod player, explores the intersections of jazz and Indian classical music.
Artist: Davianna Griffin
Davianna Griffin
Davianna’s art boldly celebrates Black culture, weaving storytelling and memory into every piece. Her work has premiered internationally in Brazil and at venues like Urban Arts Space and the Hybrid Arts Lab. Her choreography was showcased at Full Tilt 2025, the Baltimore Black Choreographers Festival, the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance, and at several universities along the East Coast.
Artist: Maisy Neill
Maisy Neill
An LA native, Maisy trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, street styles, Dunham, Bollywood, and aerial arts. In Seattle, she expanded her practice to include vertical dance, pole, and Undercurrent floorwork. She holds a Dance and Psychology degree from the University of Washington and received the Evelyn H. Greene Endowed Scholarship for artistic promise. Her choreography has been presented at the UW Dance Majors Concert, STG’s DANCE This, BOOST Dance Festival, and LAUNCH.
Artist: Sophie Powell
Soapy Towel Productions
Soapy Towel Productions is a contemporary based dance collective. Led by queer artist Sophie Powell, they take inspiration from movements and gestures from daily life to influence the story of each piece. Sophie has presented work with Olympic Ballet School, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet Academy and has choreographed a number of academic musical theatre productions.
Previous Artists in Residence
2018
Coriolis Dance Company
Techtonic Marrow Society – Coleman Pester
Version Excursion – Erin Boyt
Julie Tobiason
Daniel Costa Dance
2019
Cameo Lethem
Forthun + Rome – CarliAnn Forthun Bruner & Ethan Rome
House of Verlaine – Lily Verlaine
Petra Zanki
SOTO + TOWER – Maya Soto & Nico Tower
2022
Alana O. Rogers Dance Company
PRICEarts N.E.W. Dance Company – Noelle Price
The Gray – Beth Terwilleger
Intrepedis Dance – Holly Livingston & Samantha Weissbach Williams
3rd Shift Dance – Xaviera Vandermay
2023
Degenerate Art Ensemble
Karin Stevens Dance
Mary Sigward + Artists
SLOWBURN Dance – Meredith Pellon
2024
Audrey Rachelle and Alex Oliva
Maia Melene D’urfé
Margaux Gex
Vania C. Bynum
2025
HYPERNOVA/Rainbow Fletcher
Project Convergence
Leah Russell
Rhea Kellere
Apply to the Program
Where and When to Apply
We will accept applications for the 2026 residency program starting October 6, 2025. The online application form will be available on our applications page. Please contact us at catherine@seattleidf.org if you have any questions in the meantime.