ARCOS carries out its mission—to experiment rigorously to discover adventurous new forms of contemporary performance—through two major avenues: Firstly, by creating performance that integrates overlapping layers of newer and older technologies in ways that question dominant understandings of the world, explore moments when cultures collide, and examine the turbulent processes of traditions in flux. These pieces explore the complexity of being human today and are accessible and relevant to a diverse range of contemporary audiences. Secondly, through interdisciplinary training and development programming for performing artists at various stages in their practices. These activities take the form of academic residencies, biannual interdisciplinary performance workshops, weekly dance technique classes, masterclasses, microgrants, fiscal sponsorship, and fundraising and production support for independent performing artists.
ARCOS has presented work at festivals and institutions including McCallum Choreography Festival, SITE Santa Fe, Currents International New Media Festival, {254} Dancefest, Online Performance Art Festival, BarnStorm DanceFest, Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, Dance Co-Op, CounterCurrent, Dance Gallery Festival, the Contemporary Austin, and a critically acclaimed, award-winning production at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. ARCOS has served as guest artists at academic institutions including Texas State University, Colorado College, Texas A&M University, Connecticut College’s Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology, University of Colorado Boulder, University of North Texas, Goddard College, University of Michigan, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Macalester College, and artist residencies such as Playa Summerlake, Ucross Foundation, and Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. They have also published work in the peer-reviewed journal Theatre Design & Technology and received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, New Mexico Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Donors Trust, Hatchfund, Rea Charitable Trust, Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division.
