Curbside Theater is now available for 2-day residencies in locations beyond our base in the Wasatch Front / SLC area.
Residencies engage your community with:
• Professional artists and production values
• Social-distance friendly outdoor venues
• Accessible dance and song for all audiences
• Cost-effective price (no theater or even power supply needed)
• Great for smaller communities and towns
• An identity that defines your unique community (the outdoor location is distinctly yours– this is called placemaking, a distinguishing characteristic of Curbside)
Usually over 2 days, residencies can consist of: 1) 30-min “block party” performances; 2) evenings of 8-10 min “delivery” performances; or 3) a combination of these formats. Block parties are appropriate for larger groups (generally up to 50 people but it depends on the location). Deliveries are excellent for smaller numbers of viewers, and especially vulnerable populations. A typical residency might consist of a block party on Friday night to a group of 20-60 people, and deliveries on Saturday to several houses or locations that are in the same general area. Alternatively, two communities could coordinate so a block party can take place in one on Friday and another on Saturday.
The main limitations are temperature and light. 60F and above permits the performers and audience to stay comfortable. Because stage lighting is a crucial element, we start at dusk. Mid-June in Salt Lake, we started at 9:15pm dusk. By the second week of October, shows began at 7:15pm. The start time and how late audiences stay up determines the number of performances we can present. We’re game for late shows, especially on hot summer nights.
Major cost factors are artist fees, travel, and accommodations. We’ll drive to most places within 7 hours of Salt Lake. Not including lodging, the cost of a Curbside residency is generally $2,500-$5,000 for two nights, depending on distance, site, and number of performers. In certain locations, this cost can be underwritten by grants we’ve received for this purpose. We encourage hosts to look at sponsors, supporters, and grants for their locale.
FAQs
— What infrastructure do you require? None. Our professional production is completely self-sufficient and powered by batteries. Read below for more info about locations.
— What is SB Dance? Founded in 1996, SB Dance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and resident of Salt Lake County’s Rose Wagner Center. It is a professional group that works mainly with dance but also other mediums. Learn more here.
— Why are performances only 30 minutes? The beautiful and unusual quality about Curbside is that it takes place under open skies in your community’s unique landscape. That’s not a controlled environment like a theater or auditorium. We’ve found that 30 minutes works best in that situation. Just read the user reviews!
— Will you perform indoors? As long as Covid remains a public health hazard, indoor locations must meet our standards for separation between the stage and the audience, air circulation or filtering, social-distancing, and mask-wearing. However, covered pavilions are generally similar to outdoor performances.
— What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate? We do our best to make it happen but can’t dance on a wet stage or in freezing temperatures. So we monitor the weather and make a decision together with the host.
— Does this work for educational settings? Totally. Best for high school and up. We performed for the University of Utah Dept of Dance’s grad students who were deeply curious about the format and innovation. Curbside exemplifies the kind of creative thinking that inspires all young artists, in any discipline.
— What’s the ideal location? The best place is a natural amphitheater-type space with good acoustics, or at least quiet and away from traffic. Choose a scenic landscape behind the stage for terrific photos in your community. A slight uphill slope where the audience sits makes viewing easy. Neighborhood cul-de-sacs also work well. It’s best to have toilets available for viewers.
— Is photography allowed? Absolutely. Please credit SB Dance or tag with #curbsidetheater
— Is this safe during the Covid crisis? It’s an outdoor performance with plenty of space, we stay far away from you, and masks are required if ample social distancing is not possible. It is generally considered low-risk.
— How about socializing? Most hosts organize some kind of socializing– from a full event to nibbles and drinks– and cap it off with a Curbside performance. Watch the dusk sky. Sit on a folding chair or blanket. Then a mesmerizing 30 min show or shorter delivery. Social gatherings must adhere to state and local mandates about Covid safety.
— Is this okay for kids? Sure. You might think of it like going to a nice restaurant: some kids enjoy almost anything and some will only order off the children’s menu. But please don’t make a reservation for a children’s party or a kids-only event.
— What’s your advice about delivery location? We need enough curbside to quickly park a truck and trailer. It needs to be fairly level. We need 10′ between viewers and the stage. There should also be enough room for your group to social distance if they’re not in the same bubble.
