Thank you for the guidance and support you offered through the CUNY Dance Initiative residencies. Those residencies were pivotal for MBDance and
I am a stronger artist because of them. — Maria Bauman, MBDance, 2014 & 2015 resident artist
New York City choreographers and dance companies are invited to apply for residencies via the CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI). Designed to take advantage of underutilized facilities while integrating New York City’s dance community with the public university system, the CUNY Dance Initiative provides local artists with rehearsal and performance space on 13 CUNY campuses across the five boroughs.
Independent choreographers and professional companies representing a variety of dance styles, from contemporary to classical and culturally specific forms, are encouraged to apply.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2024-25 APPLICATION >>
DEADLINE: February 15, 2024 at 11:59pm
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CUNY DANCE INITIATIVE RESIDENCY GUIDELINES
Residencies are awarded on an annual cycle from July 1 – June 30.
In order to be eligible for a CDI residency, choreographers/companies:
- must reside or be incorporated in the five boroughs of New York City
- must be emerging or established professional companies with demonstrated artistic excellence
- may NOT be full-time faculty or staff at CUNY colleges
- may NOT have already received a CDI residency for two consecutive years
Each CDI residency varies, depending on the needs of the selected choreographer/company and the available facilities (studio or theater) at the host campus. Residencies range from rehearsal only to one that includes a master class/lecture-demonstration or other opportunity for the campus community to become familiar with the artist’s work, and/or a performance. The residency may be used to support the creation of new work or to rehearse existing repertory, or a combination of the two.
WHAT A RESIDENCY OFFERS
Please fully review information about the location and facilities of each of our 13 partner colleges and partner arts organizations. Residencies at Manhattan colleges are typically more competitive than those at colleges in the outer boroughs.
Each CUNY college/partner arts organization will provide the selected choreographer/company with:
- Minimum of 25 hours of rehearsal space
- Minimum of $1,000 residency honorarium
- Opportunity to teach a master class/hold an open rehearsal or other engagement event
- A performance fee as negotiated between the artist and venue (if applicable)
- Marketing and technical support for the performance (if applicable)
Applications are reviewed by faculty and staff at participating CUNY campuses and our partners at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, and Brooklyn Arts Exchange. Due to the high volume of applicants, individual feedback on applications is not possible.