CV:

SUMMARY

Caitlyn Swett (she/her) is a dance-maker, sound artist, and arts administrator from Black Mountain, NC. Her work has meandered throughout North Carolina and led her to co-found, co-produce, and perform with interdisciplinary arts collectives and projects. Caitlyn’s administrative career has served award-winning choreographers, festivals, and venues throughout the state. For more, visit About or reach out.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Management and Development Director, Culture Mill (Fall 2021-Present)

Culture Mill is an award-winning performing arts laboratory based in Saxapahaw, NC.

Duties include broadening individual and institutional relationships through trust-based partnerships. Grounding in community-centric practices with a racial and economic justice lens for grant writing and fundraising campaigns. Identifying new avenues for responsible philanthropy. Generating a long-term sustainability plan with diverse revenue streams. Managing day-to-day operations.

Director of Grants and Development Operations, American Dance Festival (Fall 2017-Fall 2021)

American Dance Festival (ADF) is a world-renowned dance presenter based in Durham, NC.

Hailed as “the best grant writer in my tenure” by ADF’s Executive Director, secured a combined total $3.3 million in grants, contributed to annual increase in public support, facilitated campaigns, and maintained a portfolio of 50+ foundation, corporate, and federal institutions.

Administrative Assistant, Helen Simoneau Danse (Spring 2016-Spring 2017)

As the assistant to the Artistic Director and Managing Director, elevated local press coverage, contributed to the success of multiple sold-out performances through marketing/PR and community engagement efforts, increased outreach and social media presence, assisted fundraising efforts, managed box office operations, and generally supported the artistic work.

Program Coordinator, On Site/In Sight Dance Festival (Fall 2015-Spring 2017)

As the primary liaison for 20+ festival artists, 7+ venues, 5 festival co-producers, press, and technical staff, oversaw the festival’s curation and execution, reached over 900 audience members each year through 3 days of event programming, increased the output and quality of press coverage, elevated media content, and secured funding for festival performers.

Administrative Assistant, Neighborhood Theatre (2014)

As the assistant to the General Manager, supported administrative operations, coordinated canvassing teams, managed social media content and increased output at concerts, curated and produced interdisciplinary monthly series uplifting emerging visual and performing artists.

EDUCATION

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Fall 2010-Fall 2013): Bachelor of the Arts: Major in Dance | Magna Cum Laude | GPA 3.77

Charles D. Owen High School (Fall 2006-Spring 2010): High School Diploma | High Honors | GPA 4.0

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAININGS

Free The Voice (Winter 2023 - Summer 2024)

26-week voice excavation module with experimental vocalist/composer Odeya Nini

Racial Equity, Justice, and Allyship Workshops (Fall 2019, Spring 2021, Fall 2023)

White Women Taking on Our Own White Supremacy with We Are Finding Freedom (2023)

Allyship Training with Service Never Sleeps (2021)

Phase 1 workshop with Racial Equity Institute (2019)

American Dance Festival (Summer 2015 and Summer 2016)

Administrative Intern with ADF’s Performances and Special Events Office (2016)

ADF Six Week School Student under ADF Faculty and Guest Artists (2015)

Central Piedmont Community College (Fall 2014)

Continuing Education Program: Artist Entrepreneurship

VOLUNTEERING AND FACILITATION

Volunteering and Community Service (2008-Present)

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: First Connection Program (Summer 2022-Present)

Fed Up (mutual aid, food justice, and collective power project) in Durham, NC (2021)

Apples & Greens Urban Community Garden in Winston-Salem, NC (2017)

Charlotte Family Housing (2013-2014)

Friendship Gardens in Charlotte, NC (2012)

MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, NC (2008)

GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS

Independent and Collective Artist Grant Awards

Durham Arts Council Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Grant (2019)

Arts Council of Winston-Salem Wells Fargo Community Engagement Mini-Grant (2017)

John S. & James L. Knight Foundation Grant for Triptych Collective (2013)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts and Science Council Grants for Triptych Collective (2012-2013)

Education-Related Awards and Honors

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts and Science Council Continuing Education Assistance (2014)

UNC-Charlotte Department of Dance Scholarship (2011-2013)

UNC-Charlotte Charlotte Research Scholars Fellowship (2013)

Charles D. Owen High School Excellence in Fine Arts Award (2010)

Lenna Rose Williams Memorial Scholarship (2010)

Kiwanis Club’s Counselor Award (2010)

Beta Upsilon of Alpha Delta Kappa’s Kate Reeves Scholarship (2010)

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE AND ARTISTIC WORK

Freelance Creations and Performances

Freelance Collaborator and Performer: a bird you must not miss (2022) and Interstitial 4 (2019) by Chris Yon and Taryn Griggs, Well (2023) and Eclipse (2022) by Culture Mill, physical installation for The Great Enemy of Truth exhibit (2019) by Elizabeth Alexander, Welcome (2016-2017) by Rachel Barker, Art in Unexpected Places pop-up series (2016) by Helen Simoneau, Out of the Shadows (2014) by Gretchen Alterowitz, Sophisticated Animal (2014) by PLEXUSdance.

Notable Presentations: American Dance Festival (2022), Carolina Performing Arts (2022), Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (2019), Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (2019), North Carolina Dance Festival (2018), Seattle International Dance Festival (2017), UNC-Charlotte Faculty Dance Concert (2016), Levine Museum of the New South (2014).

Collaborative Projects and Performances

Ongoing Collaboration: Streak of Tigers – improvisational electro-poetry band in Durham, NC (begun 2018)

Past Collaborations: Improvisational noise-dance project Paideia (2016-2020), Duets with Orchid (2016) with Zach Cooper, MORE (2015) and W(o/e)rk (2013) with Sarah Ingel, interdisciplinary performances with Triptych Collective (2010-2014).

Notable Presentations: Saturdays in Saxapahaw (Saxapahaw, NC 2022), International Noise Conference (Miami, FL 2019 and 2020), Black Mountain College Museum (Asheville, NC 2017), Vox Populi Gallery (Philadelphia, PA 2017), Slow Pony Project residency (Chicago, IL 2016), Indy Grits Film Festival (Columbia, SC 2014), McColl Center for Art + Innovation (Charlotte, NC 2014), Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (Charlotte, NC 2013), Democratic National Convention (Charlotte, NC 2012), Hart Witzen Gallery (Charlotte, NC 2012).

Solo Creations and Performances

RETA (2018) – dance for film premiered at ADF’s Movies by Movers dance film festival (Durham, 2018) and presented at Ladyfest CLT (Charlotte, 2019)

Spine (2018) – created and performed for Tobacco Road Dance Productions (Durham, NC).

I came out quiet. (2016) – a work examining intergenerational and relational trauma and the process of healing through meditations and practices including Somatic Experiencing.

Learned Hope (2014) – created and performed for Charlotte New Music Festival to an original new music score composed by festival artist in-residence Weijun Chen (China).

Blending Mechanism (2014) – a site-adaptable work premiered at Charlotte New Music Festival as part of the festival’s choreographers in-residence showcase.