The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI), an expansive program offering New York Metropolis choreographers and dance corporations with inventive residencies on CUNY campuses and past, publicizes the awarded artists for its 2025–26 cycle.
From July 2025 to June 2026, CDI is underwriting residencies for 25 early-to-mid-career choreographers at 14 CUNY faculties and three companion arts organizations in all 5 boroughs. These NYC-based artists, chosen from an open name that drew a record-breaking 293 candidates, mirror the range of NYC’s dance subject, and in addition mirror CUNY’s pupil demographics. They work in a variety of dance types and kinds — from ballet to road, faucet, flamenco, and up to date and culturally particular traditions. Along with offering house and monetary assist for the event of recent and current initiatives, all CDI residencies embrace grasp courses, visitor lectures, or open rehearsals to attach artists with CUNY communities.
“Over the previous 11 years, the CUNY Dance Initiative has constructed a consortium of CUNY faculties in direct assist of native dance artists and New York Metropolis’s inventive economic system,“ says Frank H. Wu, president of Queens School, the place CDI is predicated. “The initiative supplies choreographers with assets equivalent to rehearsal time, house and funding, all of that are essential for advancing their careers. CUNY college students in addition to communities native to the campuses profit from the grasp courses and performances that CDI sponsors. There isn’t a different residency program of this nature within the nation. We’re proud that it’s led by Queens School.”
CDI has awarded residencies to 270 choreographers for the reason that program started in 2014, launching corporations and choreographic careers. “Our a number of CUNY residencies have been invaluable components of Kizuna Dance’s inventive development through the years, at all times coming in at pivotal moments — from our early tour prepping days to our tenth yr anniversary efficiency in 2024,” says Inventive Director Cameron McKinney. Kizuna Dance will premiere a brand new work at John Jay School’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater in spring 2026.
With Hunter School rejoining this system in 2025-26, CDI now companions with greater than half of the universities within the CUNY system. “The reciprocity {of professional} artists working in Hunter School dance studios will reverberate throughout our group,” says Maura Donohue, Chair of the Dance Division. “These residencies will forge a pathway into and out of our curriculum, and supply a lot wanted assist to artists we all know will profit from time and house on campus.”
Partnerships past the CUNY system are integral to CDI’s collaborative ethos and dedication to increasing alternatives for artists whereas constructing audiences for dance. CDI has solid a brand new partnership with Works & Course of this yr: the collectively chosen artist (Nubian Néné) has been awarded each a CDI rehearsal residency at Queens School and a week-long, out-of-town Works & Course of residency. CDI’s two-year Arts & Social Justice Residency, established in 2021 with Brooklyn School and Brooklyn Arts Trade (BAX), welcomes its third artist this cycle: Chrybaby Cozie and The Breakfast Membership E.A.T., led by Daniel Holloway, the Harlem-born pioneer of the Hip-Hop freestyle style referred to as Lite-Ft. In Staten Island, CDI companions with Cosy Harbor Cultural Middle & Botanical Backyard, and in Queens, York School groups up with Jamaica Middle for Arts & Studying.
The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) is happy to unveil its 2025–26 Resident Artists and Host Companions.
At Baruch School, Pigeonwing Dance takes the stage at Baruch Performing Arts Middle. BMCC’s Tribeca Performing Arts Middle hosts NVA & Friends and Elodie Dufroux. Brooklyn School, in partnership with Brooklyn Arts Trade, welcomes Chrybaby Cozie & The Breakfast Membership E.A.T. and Kayla Farrish. The Metropolis School of New York’s Metropolis School Middle for the Arts options Gerson Lanza: To Dance Is To Be Free and Jeevika Bhat. The School of Staten Island, alongside Cosy Harbor Cultural Middle, presents MBDance. Hostos Neighborhood School showcases Laura Peralta and The Knee–Coronary heart Connection at Hostos Middle for the Arts and Tradition. Hunter School’s Dance Division hosts Kyle Marshall Choreography and Naomi Funaki.
John Jay School’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater options Ephrat Asherie Dance and Kizuna Dance. LaGuardia Neighborhood School’s Performing Arts Middle welcomes Solar Kim Dance Theatre and COLE JAZZ & The NEW Jack Cole Dancers. Lehman School’s Division of Dance and Theatre presents Megan Curet. Medgar Evers School’s Division of Mass Communications, Artistic and Performing Arts & Speech hosts Adia Tamar Whitaker & Àṣẹ Dance Theater and Claude Cj Johnson. Queensborough Neighborhood School’s Dance Program options Barr Our bodies and Johnnie Cruise Mercer. Queens School, by way of the Kupferberg Middle for the Arts and Division of Drama, Theatre & Dance, hosts A Girl within the Home Dance Firm/Nubian Néné (in partnership with Works & Course of) and Xianix Barrera Flamenco Co. Lastly, York School, in collaboration with Jamaica Middle for Arts & Studying, presents Sheer Spectacle and Elinor Kleber Diggs.
This various lineup displays CDI’s dedication to inventive innovation and group engagement. Go to www.cuny.edu/danceinitiative for extra data.
