Press release:

The New York State DanceForce, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, announces the Western New York Choreographers’ Initiative, a new funding opportunity for choreographers living in New York’s 10 westernmost counties: Chautauqua, Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Monroe, and Livingston.

The application deadline is April 2.

The WNY Choreographers’ Initiative is a new program designed to help WNY resident choreographers develop their choreographic skills by providing them with appropriate resources that are generally unavailable or unaffordable.

These resources include 24 hours of creative studio time, professional dancers, the guidance of a professional mentor chosen by the artist, and a $2,500 stipend. Two choreographers will be selected for the award in 2018.

The New York State DanceForce is a consortium of 18 dance activists committed to increasing the quantity and quality of dance activity throughout New York State.

Each of our members receives an annual allocation to design projects that bring dance artists to Upstate NY communities in customized residencies. Since its founding in 1994, the DanceForce, through the work of its members, has funded more than 350 projects, raising more than $2.8 million in support of these endeavors.

Complete guidelines and application forms, can be found at www.danceforce.org/. For more information contact Program Coordinator Lois Welk at lois@danceforce.org