Archive: Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships

Congratulations to the 2026 McKnight Choreographer and Dancer Fellows

Six Minnesota dance artists have been selected for 2026 McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers (Minneapolis, MN) — Springboard for the Arts announces the 2026 recipients.

McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers recognize six Minnesota-based dance artists whose work demonstrates a sustained commitment to artistic excellence. These fellowships provide each artist with $25,000 in unrestricted support, enabling time for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration—whether to pursue a new opportunity, begin a project, or deepen their practice.

2026 McKnight Choreographer Fellows
BRKFST Dance Company
Helen Hatch
Marciano Silva dos Santos

Choreographer Selection Panel
Heather Cornell (Guelph, Canada): Director, Choreographer, Soloist
Joanna Haigood (San Francisco, CA): Choreographer, Artistic Director, Zaccho Dance Theatre
Rita Mustaphi (Minneapolis, MN): Choreographer and Artistic Director of Katha Dance Theatre
John Parks (Tampa, FL): Artist, Dancemaker, The Parks Institute Director

In addition to the $25,000 fellowship award, each Choreographer Fellow is offered additional support for research and development of their work. The opportunity offers a supported trip to New York City during the APAP conference, as well as funds for dedicated space and/or engaging collaborators in the creative process.

2026 McKnight Dancer Fellows
Davente Gilreath
Gemma Isaacson
Asha Rowland

Dancer Selection Panel
LaTasha Barnes (Phoenix, AZ): Tradition-Bearer of Black American Social Dance, Associate Professor of Dance – ASU
Jumaane Taylor (Chicago, IL): Tap Dancer, Improviser, Choreographer, The Jazz Hoofing Quartet
Yuki Tokuda (Saint Paul, MN): Choreographer, Teacher
Cheng Xiong (Minneapolis, MN): Dancer, Choreographer, Technica Movement

In addition to the $25,000 fellowship award, the Fellowship Program will also provide funds for each Dancer Fellow to commission a choreographer of their choice to create a new solo dance work specifically for them. These projects will premiere in September 2028. The McKnight Fellowships for Choreography and Dance are designed to enrich and strengthen our community by acknowledging the accomplishments of individual choreographers and dancers and providing for their artistic growth.

Guidelines for the 2027 McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers applications will be available in mid-August 2026 at mcknightdancechoreo.org.

Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants

Are you a dancer anywhere in the U.S. in dire financial emergency? Have you recently lost engagements, or been ill or injured? You may be eligible for a one-time Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant of up to $3,000.

Cycle 24 is open through Tuesday, May 19 for essential expenses including rent, utilities, medicine/healthcare, and food. Cycle 25 will be open July 7–August 4. Bimonthly cycles will follow. Learn more from this recorded information session. This national program is administered by New York Foundation for the Arts and funded by Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Privacy is guaranteed. Please click here for details. 

These programs are open to artists living anywhere in the U.S., its territories, tribal nations, and the District of Columbia. Artists with disabilities, artists of color, and artists living outside of New York are particularly encouraged to apply. These programs are supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and administered by NYFA. For more information, email emergencyfunds@nyfa.org, or call 212/366-6900 x 239.

McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography: Applications Due Today

The full applications for the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers are now open.

We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions to today, Wednesday, March 25, 3:00pm CST, to give applicants more time to apply. (The deadline was previously Wednesday, March 18.)

You can find the complete guidelines and access to the applications here:

Please reach out to us if you need help with your application in any way.

McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography Application Open

The full applications for the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers are now open.

We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions to Wednesday, March 25, 3:00pm CST, to give applicants more time to apply. (The deadline was previously Wednesday, March 18.)

You can find the complete guidelines and access to the applications here:

Please reach out to us if you need help with your application in any way.

McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography Application Open

The full applications for the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers are now open.

We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions to Wednesday, March 25, 3:00pm CST, to give applicants more time to apply. (The deadline was previously Wednesday, March 18).

You can find the complete guidelines and access to the applications here:

Please reach out to us if you need help with your application in any way.

2026 Naked Stages Fellowship

Produced by Pillsbury House + Theatre (PH+T) and supported by the Jerome Foundation through the Jerome Performance Art Commissioning Program, Naked Stages is a 7-month mentored fellowship for artists working across disciplines—performance art, live art, site-specific, and interdisciplinary forms.

Fellows receive:

  • Financial support
  • Mentorship and workshops
  • Production resources
  • A public presentation of their work at PH+T

Deadline: Friday, March 6 at 5:00pm CST

Early career artists (2–10 years of generative experience) who have presented work outside of student contexts—if you’re ready to grow your practice in a community-centered space, apply.

Apply here!
Guidelines available here. For questions or proposal feedback, contact the Director of Naked Stages program: masanarik@pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography Application Open

The full applications for the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers are now open.

We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions to Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 3:00pm CST to give applicants more time to apply. (The deadline was previously Wednesday, March 18).

You can find the complete guidelines and access to the applications here:

Please reach out to us if you can help you with your application in any way.

McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography Application

The full applications for the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers are now open.

We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions to Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 3:00pm CST to give applicants more time to apply. (The deadline was previously Wednesday, March 18).

You can find the complete guidelines and access to the applications here:

Please reach out to us if you can help you with your application in any way.

Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants

Are you a dancer anywhere in the United States in dire financial emergency? Have you recently lost engagements, or been ill or injured? You may be eligible for a one-time Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant of up to $3,000. 

Cycle 23 will be open March 3-March 31 for essential expenses including rent, utilities, medicine/healthcare, and food. Cycle 24 will be open April 21-May 19. Bimonthly cycles will follow. Learn more from this recorded information session. This national program is administered by New York Foundation for the Arts and funded by Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Privacy is guaranteed. Please click here for details.

These programs are open to artists living anywhere in the U.S., its territories, tribal nations, and the District of Columbia. Artists with disabilities, artists of color, and artists living outside of New York are particularly encouraged to apply. These programs are supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and administered by NYFA.

For more information, email emergencyfunds@nyfa.org, or call 212/366-6900 x 239.

McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography Application

The full applications for the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers are now open.

We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions to Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 3:00pm CST to give applicants more time to apply. (The deadline was previously Wednesday, March 18).

You can find the complete guidelines and access to the applications here:

Please reach out to us if you can help you with your application in any way.