The NYS Choreographers Initiative (NYSCI) is a program of the NYS DanceForce in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). NYSCI is designed to help individual choreographers, in all genres, develop their choreographic skills by providing them with resources that are generally unavailable or unaffordable in their area. These resources include a $3,000 stipend, a minimum of 20 hours of creative time with professional dancers, and the guidance of a mentor of their choice.
This is an opportunity for exploration and experimentation. It is not to be used for preparing for a specific production or tour, incorporating new dancers into old repertoire, or finishing a work in progress. Each project is a choreographic lab, designed to fit the specific needs of each artist.
ELIGIBILITY
The goal of the NYS Choreographers Initiative is to develop and support choreographic talent in the WNY, Central NY/Capital District/North County, and Hudson Valley/Long Island regions of New York State. This is an opportunity for individual artists – not collectives, companies, or organizations. Applicants must show evidence of commitment to producing original choreography, in any dance genre. Video samples are critical for a strong proposal and should preferably include work that is less than 4 years old. Rehearsal footage is acceptable. (The application will include instructions for submitting video samples.)
Preference is given to those applicants who:
- Have produced at least one full evening of work or three or more shared bills within the past five years
- Select a mentor who is a New York State resident
Restrictions
- Limited to choreographers who have consistently resided in the 55 eligible counties of New York State since January 2025 (see map above).
- Current NYS DanceForce members are not eligible to apply as choreographers; they can participate as mentors or performers.
- Former recipients are not eligible to apply for two years subsequent to their award year.
- Matriculated students are not eligible.
- At least half the studio time must happen in the artist’s home community.
DEADLINE: December 2, 2026
