CHOREOGRAPHY INCUBATOR
A program for choreographers to expand, experiment, and play
One of the hallmarks of The Ballet Salon’s programming is our Choreography Incubator, which provides returning dancers with a joyful and supportive pathway back to the stage, while empowering professional choreographers with the funding, resources, and dancers to explore their artistic process and create experimental new works of ballet.
HOW DOES IT WORK
3 Ballets in 3 Months
Three choreographers are chosen at the beginning of the season and each is granted a stipend as well as 24 hours of rehearsal space. Each choreographer is then given 1 month for their process. Through this program, our choreographers are able to dream without limitation and our dancers have the opportunity to delve into a rigorous and inspiring artistic process that is rarely available to semi-professional dancers. These new and original works of ballet are presented at the end of the season at a show in New York.
A cast of excited semi-professional dancers eager to learn again
3 choreographers interested in expanding their choreographic language, trying something new, and working with unique dancers
24 rehearsal studio hours provided by The Ballet Salon to build a ballet
A rehearsal director to clean, refine, and nurture the ballet leading up to the performance
A studio showing of work-in-progress to share process and inspiration with The Ballet Salon's community and audience
A company show in the Fall at a theater in New York
OUR MISSION
Expanding ballet through collaboration
At the heart of the Ballet Salon is a deep love for ballet as an art form and a strong belief that innovation is born from collaboration and experimentation. From our dancers’ powerful stories of return, to our classes, talks and salons, all of our programming is designed to challenge the often-limiting scope of ballet and to imagine a world where the art form we love can be ever-evolving.
Through our many conversations with both returning and professional dancers, we learned that too often, independent choreographers lack the funding and dancers needed to try new ideas and take creative risks. Additionally, for returning dancers, there are so few opportunities to be a part of an original choreographic process and return to the stage as performing artists. We created our incubator to provide a much-needed space for both communities.
- Meiying & Adriana
August 2026 Studio Showing
“Being part of The Ballet Salon has added so much joy and connection to my life...It feels radical to be in our late 20s and 30s and coming back to our shared passion!”
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- Christy, Season I. dancer
