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Dance News: Michelle Dorrance, Liz Gerring & Pam Tanowitz Receive 2016-2017 NYC Center Choreography Fellowships
Arlene Shuler, New York City Center President & CEO, announced Michelle Dorrance, Liz Gerring, and Pam Tanowitz as recipients of City Center’s 2016-2017 Choreography Fellowships.
Initiated in 2011, the Choreography Fellowship provides choreographers with 200 hours of free studio space, a generous stipend, and administrative support from the City Center staff in areas such as fundraising, marketing, and touring—essential components to their continued success. Fellows are also considered for a spot in the annual Fall for Dance Festival.
Liz Gerring. Photo credit: Tom Caravaglia.
“Liz, Pam, and Michelle are important choreographers representing a diversity of styles, and I believe each is at a place in her career where having access to some of the resources of City Center will be especially beneficial,” said President & CEO Arlene Shuler. “We know how valuable space, time, and administrative support are for these busy artists, and we’re thrilled that City Center can serve as a consistent home base for them throughout the year. They will join a long list of influential artists who have animated this building with their creative gifts.”
In a city where affordable rehearsal space is increasingly rare, the Choreography Fellowship is an immeasurable boon for dance artists. “Choreographers develop things in our heads,” said Gerring. “But until you go into the studio and start making it happen, it doesn’t really exist. You need somewhere to go; you need other people. So this Fellowship is huge; having the space problem solved frees your mind to focus on actually making things.”
Inaugural Fellow and Artistic Director of Gallim Dance Andrea Miller recalls the constant burden of whether a rental space would be suitable for her dancers. “Being able to let go of the energy that goes into that, and fully invest it in the work we were doing—it definitely was a turning point for our company,” she said.
“New York City Center is dedicated to supporting artists in their creation and audiences in their exploration,” added Shuler. “We place as much emphasis on what we put into our studios as we do on what goes on stage. This, we hope, will ensure that the art of dance continues to evolve and thrive.”
Past City Center Choreography Fellows have included Kyle Abraham, Brian Brooks, Camille A. Brown, Beth Gill, Jessica Lang, Gabrielle Lamb, Emery LeCrone, Pontus Lidberg, Rashaun Mitchell, Silas Riener, Shen Wei, and Reggie Wilson.
Support for the Choreography Fellowship is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
