The New York State DanceForce, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), announces the 2024 NYS Choreographers Initiative (NYSCI). This program supports professional development for choreographers in 55 out of the 62 counties of New York, working in all dance genres. Eligible regions are Western NY, Central NY, Capitol District/North Country, and Hudson Valley/Long Island. The application portal opens Oct 1, 2023 at danceforce.org. Deadline for proposals: Dec 7, 2023 11:59pm EST
The New York State Choreographers Initiative is designed to support dance artists in the development of their choreographic skills by providing them with resources that are often unavailable or unaffordable. These resources include a minimum of 20 hours of creative studio time, professional dancers, the guidance of a mentor of their choice, and a $2,500 stipend. Twelve choreographers from across the state will be selected for the award in 2024. This is an opportunity for artists to try new approaches, engage with a mentor, and experiment freely without the pressure of production deadlines.
“The opportunity for pure experimentation was transformative. Dance can be so product-oriented, and choreographic works can often feel isolating. This grant helped shift how I even think about experimentation in the creative process. I felt so much community around my creative voice, process, and practices – it was an invaluable moment for me. It electrified my creative courage and inspired me to lean into new ways of making dance.” – Olive Prince, NYSCI 2023 recipient
The New York State DanceForce, a NYSCA Partner, is a consortium of 24 dance activists committed to increasing the quantity and quality of dance activity throughout New York State. Members receive an annual allocation to create projects that bring dance artists to upstate NY communities in customized residencies. Since its founding in 1994, the DanceForce, through the work of its members, has funded over 400 projects, raising more than $3 million in support of these endeavors. The NYS DanceForce is administered by American Dance Asylum, Inc. and is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Guidelines are available now at danceforce.org. The application portal will open on the NYS DanceForce website on Oct 2 2023. For more information contact the NYS Choreographers Initiative at choreoinitiative@danceforce.org.