Catskill Art Space (CAS), in partnership with the Dance Gallery Festival (DGF), is thrilled to announce the 10th Annual Ardsley Dance Residency, welcoming acclaimed Portland-based director and choreographer Shaun Keylock for a week-long immersive creative retreat in the Catskill Mountains. Now in its tenth year, this celebrated residency brings together choreographers and their collaborators for an uninterrupted creative experience — deliberately freed from the logistical pressures that so often constrain artists working in today's contemporary landscape. The result is work of exceptional deliberation and depth, shaped by the singular inspiration of the Catskill region.

Open Rehearsals
May 22, 3-5pm

Performance
May 23, 5pm

Following the performance, audiences are invited to participate in a talk back with Keylock and his dancers — a rare opportunity to go behind the creative process and engage directly with the artists. Both events are free and open to all.

About the Artist

Shaun Keylock is an American director and choreographer recognized for his innovative projects and bold approach to contemporary dance. His choreography focuses on the deconstruction of classical forms — including ballet, opera, and the visual arts — creating works that are both technically rigorous and radically subversive.

In addition to his creative practice, Keylock runs Conduit Dance, Inc., an arts service organization dedicated to supporting new dance works and preserving the cultural legacy of artists in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. His choreography has been commissioned by leading festivals and institutions including On the Boards, Portland Opera, White Bird, and PICA. Most recently, he was selected to create a world premiere for the 2024 Portland Jazz Festival in collaboration with the drums-and-electronics duo Methods Body.

Artist Statement

"I am currently developing a new body of work that builds on my research into qualitative movement analysis. For this project, I am collaborating with other multidisciplinary artists — including musician and composer Andy Rayborn, along with set, lighting, and costume designers — to create a series of performances that explore a new form and style.

During the residency, I will create a new work focused on pure dance and spatial design. I am grateful for the time, space, and resources to focus fully on this project, and I look forward to sharing my process with new audiences in regions that might otherwise be inaccessible. The results of this residency will reflect a growing clarity in my practice and a deeper understanding of my identity and interests as an artist."

— Shaun Keylock