THE COMMISSION FOR DEVELOPING CHOREOGRAPHERS
In a world where commissions are offered behind closed doors, we invite the world to apply.
APPLICATION FOR 2027 IS NOW LIVE!
The Commission for Developing Choreographers is not defined by career stage. It is defined by artistic readiness and a willingness to collaborate while inviting the unknown.
BalletCollective invites choreographers at varied points in their professional lives who are seeking a rigorous, collaborative process and who are open to questioning, expanding, or disrupting their current way of working. While we avoid these labels, both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply.
Founder and Artistic Director Troy Schumacher created and continually refines the Process, maximizing opportunities for creative growth and presenting unexpected pathways into the art form both for the participating artists and the audiences who receive their work.
About The Commission for Developing Choreographers
BalletCollective’s Commission for Developing Choreographers is open to any member of the dance community with prior professional choreography experience.
Selected choreographers receive:
a commission ranging from $9,000 to $20,000, based on commission length
full commissioning fees for a composer and source artist, paid by BalletCollective
access to dance studio space during creative residencies in New York, NY and Millbrook, NY
assistance with travel and housing during residencies
the opportunity to work with an ensemble of exceptional dancers and musicians
mentorship, guidance, and sustained artistic support
a fully produced world premiere of the final product
Choreographers will be asked to commission, with BalletCollective’s support and guidance, a composer to create an original score for their piece. These two collaborators will then be tasked to work together to identify a “source artist” (any non-performative creator or thought leader) to create or curate a piece of “source art”—a contemporary work of art in any medium—that will serve as the starting reference point for their work. Past source artists have included photojournalists, board game designers, visual artists, architects, and more. It is through the interpretation, exploration of, and response to the source art that the dance-based work and its score ultimately arise.
For questions, please email info@balletcollective.com
KEY APPLICATION DATES
Application opens: Monday, January 19, 2026
Virtual Office Hours (optional): Monday, January 26, 2026 from 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM ET (register here) and Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM ET (register here)
Please note, due to software limitations, participants must be located in the USA to take part in the virtual office hours. Applicants located elsewhere are encouraged to reach out to Parker Whitehead-Bust at info@balletcollective.com with any questions.
Application is due by: Sunday, February 8, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET
Interviews with applicants who make the shortlist will take place virtually in March.
Applicants will be notified of their submission status Tuesday, April 1, 2026
Applicants should please note the following:
The New York, NY residency will likely take place over two weeks in June 2027. Travel and housing support is available for choreographers who are not New York residents.
The Millbrook, NY residency will likely take place two weeks in July 2027. Housing, travel, and transportation for choreographers is provided.
The New York, NY premiere will likely take place in late October or early November 2027. Travel and housing support is available for choreographers, composers, and source artists who are not New York residents.
ABOUT
THE BALLETCOLLECTIVE PROCESS
BalletCollective’s central premise is that interdisciplinary collaboration can catalyze meaningful artistic growth.
Each commissioned choreographer works closely with:
a composer, commissioned to create an original score
a source artist, defined as a non-performative creator or thinker working in any medium
Together, these collaborators engage in a structured exchange in which source material is interpreted, questioned, and transformed into a new dance-based work and original musical composition.
Founder and Artistic Director Troy Schumacher created and continually refines The BalletCollective Process, maximizing opportunities for creative growth and presenting unexpected pathways into the art form both for the participating artists and the audiences who receive their work.
