RoseAnne Spradlin Becomes New York Live Arts '17-'18 Randjelovic/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist

New York Live Arts, under the artistic leadership of world renowned choreographer, National Medal of Arts, MacArthur "Genius" Award and Kennedy Center Honors winner Bill T. Jones and Associate Artistic Director Janet Wong, announced RoseAnne Spradlin as the 2017-18 Randjelovic/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist (RCA). The Randjelovic/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist is one of the most substantial awards for a choreographer in the United States and a significant vehicle for midcareer artists.

Spradlin first gained critical notice in the 1990's as a performer in works by choreographer Steve Gross. Her choreographic breakthrough came at the Kitchen in 1996 with premiers of three works: Immunity, Desire and Last Day of Summer. Spradlin's work has since been seen at major downtown venues in New York including the Chocolate Factory, Dance Theater Workshop, New York Live Arts, Danspace Project, Dia Center for the Arts, Dixon Place, Joyce Theater and Whitney Altria. Her piece Survive Cycle was presented internationally at the ImPulsTanz Festival in Vienna, Austria. Her latest work, 'X', premiered at New York's Joyce Theater in 2016 and was cited by the New York Times "as one of the best dance productions of the year."

Spradlin's awards include the 2014 US Artist Ford Fellowship in Dance, the Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography (2008), the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Choreography (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010), the Lambent Foundation Fellowship in Performing Arts (2006-2008), the Artist Award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (2007) and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Creative Exploration Fund Award (2008), among others. Spradlin won a 2003 New York Dance and Performance Award (BESSIE) in Choreography for under/world.

"RoseAnne is a unique artist with an uncompromising vision. Her work is fearless in its intention, rigorous in its investigation and structure, regardless of what she is trying to say, question or keep concealed," says Bill T. Jones. Spradlin has a long relationship with New York Live Arts and Dance Theater Workshop, beginning with Fresh Tracks in 1990, and has been presented and commissioned several times since then. Her piece g-h-o-s-t c-r-o-w-n (Working Title) was presented by New York Live Arts in October 2014. "It is particularly meaningful that we as an organization have supported and witnessed RoseAnne's growth as an artist. The substantial support she will receive will allow her to dream and make work that she may not otherwise have been able to create," states Wong.

The Randjelovic/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist award, valued at over $350,000 in direct and indirect costs over two years, is one of the most substantial choreographer awards in the United States. The RCA artist receives a full-time salary, healthcare benefits, full-time access to dedicated office space during the entire residency period, creative funds, a technical theater residency and fully-produced production. Since the creation of the program in 2011, Randjelovic/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artists have been Yasuko Yokoshi, Kyle Abraham and Okwui Okpokwasili. Okpokwasili will premiere Poor People's TV Room, her latest dance theater work created as an RCA artist, in April 2017 at New York Live Arts.

"We see the RCA program as the bridge between a mid-career artist and an established artist with a major national impact and footprint. The RCA program is a stepping-stone that fulfills New York Live Arts multi-tiered, progressive mission to support the creative process," states Wong. The program takes a tailored approach to helping artists become their own best advocates and agents while encouraging experimentation in the development of their work.

Since its inception, the program has received lead support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with supporting funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and individual donors, and has been named for lead donors Jon Stryker and New York Live Arts board vice-chair Slobodan Randjelovic. The Mellon Foundation continues to be instrumental in one of Live Arts' signature programs for artist development, and its ongoing support is vital to the continuation of the program.

NEW YORK LIVE ARTS
Located in the heart of Chelsea in New York City, New York Live Arts is an internationally recognized destination for innovative artistry. New York Live Arts produces and presents dance, music and theater performances, offers an extensive range of participatory programs for adults and young people, supports the continuing professional development of artists and serves as home for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.