**BalletCollective’s Commission for Developing Choreographers, now in its seventh year, offers choreographers the chance to partner closely with a composer and a “source artist” (any non-performative artist) to produce an original dance work and score. Two choreographers will be commissioned to make works that will premiere with live musical accompaniment during BalletCollective’s annual fall season in New York, NY in 2026, which also has the honor of being BalletCollective’s 15th Anniversary Season.**

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, and it is through the interpretation, exploration of, and response to the source art that the dance-based work and its score ultimately arise.

  
**Key Dates:**

* The New York, NY residency will take place over two weeks in June 2026\.
* The Millbrook, NY residency will take place two weeks in July 2026\.
* The New York, NY premiere will take place in late October or early November 2026\.

The two selected choreographers will each be offered a commission fee ranging from $9,000-$18,000 based on commission length. Additional fees are paid by BalletCollective to the choreographer’s selected composer and source artist. BalletCollective will also provide to the choreographer:

* dance studio space during creative residencies in New York, NY and Millbrook, NY
* assistance with travel and housing during creative residencies in New York, NY and Millbrook, NY
* the chance to work with an ensemble of exceptional dancers and musicians
* mentorship, guidance, and support

  