The 2026 NY State Choreographers Initiative Grant Cycle is Open!

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. These resources include a $2,500 stipend, a minimum of 20 hours of creative time with professional dancers, and the guidance of a mentor of their choice.

The NYS DanceForce, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts @nyscouncilonthearts announces the 2026 NY State Choreographers Initiative (NYSCI). 

Established in 2018, the NY State Choreographers Initiative (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. These resources include a $2,500 stipend, up to $7,500 in support for dancers’ fees, studio rental, documentation & travel expenses, and the guidance of a mentor of their choice with a mentor stipend of $2000.

This is an opportunity for artists to try new approaches, engage with a mentor and experiment freely without the pressure of production deadlines. Eligible regions are Western NY, Central NY, Capitol District/North Country, and Hudson Valley/Long Island.

Deadline to submit is Dec 3, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. 

Visit www.danceforce.org for application guidelines, to register for 3 upcoming info sessions, and to schedule a one-on-one consultation.

This is an opportunity for 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.

More details: https://www.danceforce.org/nysci-2026-guidelines/

Visit www.danceforce.org for application guidelines, to register for 3 upcoming info sessions, and to schedule a one-on-one consultation. 

Application close date: 3rd December 2025