Creative Fellowships

New York City Center’s Creative Fellowships provide emerging talent the opportunity to be immersed in the fast-paces production process of our musical theater offerings. Fellows work alongside renowned artists and professionals throughout the season.

Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship

“That’s the power [Ann Reinking] had: she was a massive pro with a legendary history who was committed to helping young people. She could see you, and you knew you had something to offer.”
— SDC Journal

Interested in learning more about the Fellowship before applying? Join us for a virtual information session on Wed May 29. Attendees will learn more about the position’s structure, application process and hear directly from the 2023–2024 inaugural fellow, Niani Feelings.

Register

The Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship honors the celebrated choreographer, teacher, and mentor by supporting a unique dance professional every year. This season-long position offers the Fellow the opportunity to develop their choreographic and teaching careers at New York City Center. The Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship will specifically support career pathways for women, non-binary artists, and artists of color underrepresented in the field, offering access to City Center’s musical theater season as well as the Education & Community Engagement Department and its programming.

Key Aspects of the Fellowship

• The Fellow will experience the full scope of City Center’s musical theater season as a participant in the creative process for our Encores! and Annual Gala productions. Under the guidance of four different choreographers, the Fellow will discover new opportunities for networking, mentorship, observance, and involvement.
• Starting with the Annual Gala musical, the Fellow will receive a thorough introduction to City Center’s uniquely consolidated musical theater production process by shadowing the choreography team.
• Over the course of three subsequent 2025 Encores! productions, the Fellow will continue to build their experience and understanding of the process with each choreographic team.
• The Fellow will gain an understanding of school & community programming during their time with the Education & Community Engagement Department. Through collaboration with the team, the Fellow will support curricular and programmatic design efforts to share Encores! history and process with school and community partners. The Fellow will periodically assist with programs and may assume the role of a Teaching Artist.
• Specialized career-development opportunities will be offered, including seminars, master classes, retreats, and further opportunities to engage with New York City’s dance and choreographic resources.
• Opportunities to observe City Center's dance programming may also be available.

Timeline and Compensation

• Aug 27, 2024 – Jun 3, 2024
• $21/hour for 40 hours/week
• Over the course of the season (41 weeks), the Fellow will spend 21 weeks in production and 20 weeks with the Education & Community Engagement department.
• The Fellow will be eligible for statutory benefits during the fellowship. 

Ideal Candidate

The Fellowship specifically supports career pathways for women, non-binary artists, and artists of color, who are underrepresented at the highest levels of professional theater. Early-career choreographers from varied traditions, training, and dance styles are encouraged to apply.

• 1+ years of experience creating choreography
• Familiarity with the musical theater rehearsal & production process
• Training in a variety of dance styles
• Passion for arts education and engagement, and the role it plays in communities and schools. Previous related experience is a bonus.

Application Deadline: Thu Jun 20 at 6pm

Apply

The Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship is supported by:
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Peter Talbert in honor of Ann Reinking

Directing Fellowship

The Encores! Directing Fellow will work closely with the Directors and Associate Directors of the Encores! Series every season. They will attend rehearsals and be present for production meetings throughout pre-production, rehearsal, and tech. The Fellow will provide note-taking support, may be asked to run lines with actors, or stand in for actors who are not present while blocking is being reviewed. The Fellow will gain an intimate look into how Directors synthesize dynamics between all creative departments and manage time within truncated rehearsal processes.

Key Aspects of the Fellowship

• The Fellow will experience the full scope of City Center’s Encores! season as a participant in the creative process for all three Encores! Productions.
• Under the guidance of three different Directing teams, the Fellow will discover new opportunities for networking, mentorship, observance, and involvement.
• Specialized career-development opportunities will be offered including seminars and individualized networking.
• Prior to the first Encores! production, the fellow will participate in paid orientation.

Timeline & Compensation

• Dec 2023 – Jun 2024
  • Once Upon a Mattress: Mid-December – Late January
  • Jelly’s Last Jam: Late January – Late February
  • Titanic: Mid-May – Mid-June
• $17/hour for a total of 14 weeks, weekly hours vary

Qualified candidates will possess:

• 1+ years of experience in Directing
• Familiarity with the musical theater rehearsal & production process