The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI), an expansive program providing New York City choreographers and dance companies with creative residencies on CUNY campuses and beyond, announces the awarded artists for its 2025–26 cycle.
From July 2025 to June 2026, CDI is underwriting residencies for 25 early-to-mid-career choreographers at 14 CUNY colleges and three partner arts organizations in all five boroughs. These NYC-based artists, selected from an open call that drew a record-breaking 293 applicants, reflect the diversity of NYC’s dance field, and also mirror CUNY’s student demographics. They work in a wide range of dance styles and forms — from ballet to street, tap, flamenco, and contemporary and culturally specific traditions. In addition to providing space and financial support for the development of new and existing projects, all CDI residencies include master classes, guest lectures, or open rehearsals to connect artists with CUNY communities.
“Over the past 11 years, the CUNY Dance Initiative has built a consortium of CUNY colleges in direct support of local dance artists and New York City’s creative economy,“ says Frank H. Wu, president of Queens College, where CDI is based. “The initiative provides choreographers with resources such as rehearsal time, space and funding, all of which are critical for advancing their careers. CUNY students as well as communities local to the campuses benefit from the master classes and performances that CDI sponsors. There is no other residency program of this nature in the nation. We are proud that it is led by Queens College.”
CDI has awarded residencies to 270 choreographers since the program began in 2014, launching companies and choreographic careers. “Our multiple CUNY residencies have been invaluable parts of Kizuna Dance’s artistic growth over the years, always coming in at pivotal moments — from our early tour prepping days to our 10th year anniversary performance in 2024,” says Artistic Director Cameron McKinney. Kizuna Dance will premiere a new work at John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater in spring 2026.
With Hunter College rejoining the program in 2025-26, CDI now partners with more than half of the colleges in the CUNY system. “The reciprocity of professional artists working in Hunter College dance studios will reverberate across our community,” says Maura Donohue, Chair of the Dance Department. “These residencies will forge a pathway into and out of our curriculum, and provide much needed support to artists we know will benefit from time and space on campus.”
Partnerships beyond the CUNY system are integral to CDI’s collaborative ethos and commitment to expanding opportunities for artists while building audiences for dance. CDI has forged a new partnership with Works & Process this year: the jointly selected artist (Nubian Néné) has been awarded both a CDI rehearsal residency at Queens College and a week-long, out-of-town Works & Process residency. CDI’s two-year Arts & Social Justice Residency, established in 2021 with Brooklyn College and Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), welcomes its third artist this cycle: Chrybaby Cozie and The Breakfast Club E.A.T., led by Daniel Holloway, the Harlem-born pioneer of the Hip-Hop freestyle genre called Lite-Feet. In Staten Island, CDI partners with Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, and in Queens, York College teams up with Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning.
The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) is excited to unveil its 2025–26 Resident Artists and Host Partners.
At Baruch College, Pigeonwing Dance takes the stage at Baruch Performing Arts Center. BMCC’s Tribeca Performing Arts Center hosts NVA & Guests and Elodie Dufroux. Brooklyn College, in partnership with Brooklyn Arts Exchange, welcomes Chrybaby Cozie & The Breakfast Club E.A.T. and Kayla Farrish. The City College of New York’s City College Center for the Arts features Gerson Lanza: To Dance Is To Be Free and Jeevika Bhat. The College of Staten Island, alongside Snug Harbor Cultural Center, presents MBDance. Hostos Community College showcases Laura Peralta and The Knee–Heart Connection at Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture. Hunter College’s Dance Department hosts Kyle Marshall Choreography and Naomi Funaki.
John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater features Ephrat Asherie Dance and Kizuna Dance. LaGuardia Community College’s Performing Arts Center welcomes Sun Kim Dance Theatre and COLE JAZZ & The NEW Jack Cole Dancers. Lehman College’s Department of Dance and Theatre presents Megan Curet. Medgar Evers College’s Department of Mass Communications, Creative and Performing Arts & Speech hosts Adia Tamar Whitaker & Àṣẹ Dance Theater and Claude Cj Johnson. Queensborough Community College’s Dance Program features Barr Bodies and Johnnie Cruise Mercer. Queens College, through the Kupferberg Center for the Arts and Department of Drama, Theatre & Dance, hosts A Lady in the House Dance Company/Nubian Néné (in partnership with Works & Process) and Xianix Barrera Flamenco Co. Finally, York College, in collaboration with Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, presents Sheer Spectacle and Elinor Kleber Diggs.
This diverse lineup reflects CDI’s dedication to artistic innovation and community engagement. Visit www.cuny.edu/danceinitiative for more information.
Share this:
