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Grants for Choreographers

As artists who create beauty, meaning and story through the stylized movements of dancers, choreographers do some of the most exciting and memorable work in performing arts. It's a tough and highly competitive industry, but luckily there are a number of helpful grant and funding programs across the nation that can help choreographers in their work and goals, whether the choreographers are new and emerging talents or more experienced industry veterans.
  1. National Dance Project Production Grants

    • The National Dance Project (NDP) Production Grants were created in order to inspire and support choreographers for contemporary dance, as well as other dance artists and companies. The grants are awarded in amounts ranging from $25,000 to $40,000 per grant, and are typically posted each December, with deadlines in late winter (March).

      The National Dance Project is administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts and works to promote and support contemporary dance, as well as the presentation of dance, throughout the US. The goal of the National Dance Project's grant program is to provide artists with the funds and support they need in order to continue to create successfully. The NDP's Production grants help fund promising choreographers in the creation of promising new pieces that have the potential to tour on a national level. The organization typically funds approximately 20 projects per year.

      NEFA
      145 Tremont Street, 7th Floor
      Boston, MA 02111
      617-951-0010
      [email protected]
      nefa.org/grants_services/national_dance_project

    CHIME: Encouraging Choreographer Mentorship and Support

    • A project of the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, CHIME (Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange) is a mentorship program created especially in support of professional choreographers.

      The program offers grants and cost-free studio time in order to foster mentorship between established choreographers and emerging choreographers still learning their craft. CHIME currently conducts three programs, in San Francisco, Southern California and Across Borders (internationally).

      Under the CHIME program, chosen Mentors receive $7,000, while Mentees receive $3,000 and up to 100 hours of cost-free studio time at the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company. Deadlines for application are typically in October.

      CHIME (Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange)
      A Project of the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company
      Margaret Jenkins Dance Company
      149 Ninth Street, Suite 300
      San Francisco, CA 94103
      415-861-3940
      mjdc.org/CHIME/chime.html

    Choreography Grants from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA

    • Created in 1982 in memory of Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA offers grant applications for the Princess Grace Awards in choreography, as well as theater, playwriting, dance performance and film. All applicants must be US citizens or have permanent US status. All choreography applicants must also be nominated by the nonprofit organization with which they will be affiliated during the grant period. For the Choreography Fellowships (for collaborations with non-profit dance companies), applications must be postmarked by late April (check the website for specific annual deadlines).

      The Princess Grace Awards Program
      Princess Grace Foundation-USA
      150 East 58th Street, 25th Floor
      New York, NY 10155
      212-317-1470
      General questions: [email protected]
      Grants Questions: [email protected]
      pgfusa.org/

    Choreographer Grants from Dance Advance

    • Dance Advance, created in 1993 by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, is a resource for support and grants within the regional dance industry, and the organization has given away as much as $920,000 in total to worthy recipients in a single dance season. Dance Advance was specifically created in order to award grants and funding on a per-project basis to Philadelphia-area dance artists, choreographers, companies and presenters (all of whom must be based in metro Philadelphia's five county region). Grants are awarded each year, in a highly competitive atmosphere, to the recipients whose proposals were judged to be most compelling and deserving. Dance Advance announces the deadlines for that year's funding cycle each summer.

      Dance Advance
      The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
      1608 Walnut Street, 18th Floor
      Philadelphia, PA 19103
      267-350-4970
      pcah.us/dance
      [email protected]

    Inspiration, Stipends and Fellows from MANCC

    • Created in order to raise the value of the creative process in dance, The Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography, or MANCC (pronounced man-see) for short, is a groundbreaking choreographic and dance research center headquartered on the Florida State University campus, in Montgomery Hall. MANCC offers Choreographic Fellowships along with monetary stipends to professional choreographers for research, study, creative growth and inspiration.

      Interested choreographers should submit a formal proposal request (available via their website) and describe how the MANCC stipend (up to $12,000 per fellowship), its studios and facilities would be utilized. Fellowship residencies are usually two to three weeks in length.

      MANCC
      FSU Department of Dance
      202 Montgomery Hall
      Tallahassee, FL 32306-2120
      850-645-2894
      [email protected]
      mancc.org

    The Southern Theater Program and McKnight Artist Fellowships for Minnesota Choreographers

    • McKnight donates multiple fellowships to artists every year in increments of $25,000 (with total donations by McKnight equaling nearly $1 million per year). For choreographers in Minnesota, the Southern Theater program (one of twelve by McKnight in Minneapolis) awards three $25,000 fellowships each year, as it has done since 1981. Each fellowship of $25,000 is made in order to recognize the work and accomplishments from fellows who have demonstrated "standing as a midcareer artist in his or her field." Interested parties must fill out an Intent to Apply form and an application, and then submit work in live performance for panel review and deliberation. The initial application process typically takes place in August and September, with final applications typically due in March. Applicants must have resided in Minnesota for at least one year prior to application.

      McKnight Choreography Fellowships
      The Southern Theater
      1420 washington Ave South
      Minneapolis, MN 55454-1038
      612-340-0155
      southerntheater.org/faqs_choreographers.htm

      McKnight
      710 South Second Street, Suite 400
      Minneapolis, MN 55401
      612-333-4220
      mcknight.org

    The National Dance Project's Grants for Choreographers (via NEFA)

    • Offered by the New England Foundation for the Arts, or NEFA, The National Dance Project supports artists in all areas of the dance industry and accepts applications for Production Grants annually, including prestigious and highly competitive grants for choreographers. The grants are awarded in order to support and fund new dance works for potential national tour, and are given out to approximately twenty projects annually. The NDP grant amounts typically range from $25,000 to $40,000. Thus far, the NDP has supported over 200 new works by over 150 artists and dance companies nationwide. Deadlines for round one application are typically in March, with round two production grant applications typically requested by June.

      NEFA
      145 Tremont Street, 7th Floor
      Boston, MA 02111
      617-951-0010
      [email protected]
      nefa.org/grants_services

    BUILD Stability Grants for Choreographers and Dance Companies

    • New York's impassioned Building Up Infrastructure Levels for Dance (BUILD) organization is a JPMorgan Chase Regrant Program and was created in order to support the growth, creativity and artistic missions of New York City dance companies in all five boroughs. For NYC choreographers or dance companies with budgets under $35,000, BUILD Stability gives out emergency grants of $1,000 to $2,500 to small companies in difficult financial circumstances. The deadline for application is typically mid-March each year.

      In addition, BUILD also gives out operating grants to small and medium-sized New York City dance companies. Grant amounts are $10,000 and $20,000 respectively, and were created in order to assist choreographers seeking to enhance dance company management, maintenance and stability.

      For purposes of application, BUILD defines a dance company as a choreographer or artistic director who has presented work under the name of the choreographer or group for at least three years prior to application. Choreographers who only create solo performances, however, are not eligible to apply. For other rules and restrictions on application, please visit the BUILD website.

      BUILD
      The New York Foundation for the Arts
      20 Jay Street, 7th Floor
      Brooklyn, NY 11201
      212-366-6900
      nyfa.org

    The Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant Program

    • The Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant Program was created in order to recognize artistic and creative expression, and awards grants to choreographers to assist them in the creation of new works.

      The deadline for application is typically late April or early May, with applications available as early as February. Grant awards are announced in September of the same year.

      Howard County Arts Council
      8510 High Ridge Road
      Ellicott City, MD 21043
      410-313-2787
      hocoarts.org
      [email protected]
      hocoarts.org/grant_programs.php

    The Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowships and Grants

    • Through a host of services, grants and fellowships, the Arkansas Arts Council supports artists in Arkansas by providing the support they need in order to continue to pursue excellence in their crafts. The organization's Individual Artist Fellowships are made directly to individuals on an unconditional basis, and are awarded based on creativity, excellence and talent.

      Application forms are available in December or January on the Arkansas Arts Council website, with a grant application deadline of early May. Applicants must be Arkansas residents of one year or more, and at least 25 years of age.

      Individual Artist Fellowships
      Arkansas Arts Council
      1500 Tower Building
      323 Center Street
      Little Rock, AR 72201-2606
      501-324-9766
      [email protected]
      arkansasarts.com

    Grants from the NEA

    • Depending on the year, the National Endowment for the Arts, or NEA, may offer significant grants to choreographers and consistently offers grants and other support to those in the world of American dance to fund projects of all sizes nationwide. The NEA also supports a multitude of styles and forms in dance across the country, and its Grants for Arts Projects (CFDA No. 45.024) offer a variety of primary funding opportunities that can include choreographers on a year to year basis, through such categories as "American Masterpieces: Dance" and "Access to Artistic Excellence."

      National Endowment for the Arts
      1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
      Washington, DC 20506
      1-800-518-4726
      [email protected]
      nea.gov or grants.gov

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