Young Choreographer Award
The School of New England Ballet Theatre is proud to offer the Young Choreographer Award, a program designed to support the next generation of choreographers by providing high school and collegiate students with a guided opportunity to create original work in a mentored environment.
This award is part of NEBT’s commitment to nurturing artistic growth within our school and creating meaningful leadership opportunities for aspiring choreographers. The selected choreographer will develop a new work on NEBT’s Pre-Professional Program dancers over the course of several rehearsals in January and February.
Working within scheduled Saturday afternoon rehearsals, the choreographer will gain hands-on experience in crafting movement, leading rehearsals, and collaborating with pre-professional dancers. Throughout the process, the choreographer will receive mentorship and feedback from NEBT’s Artistic Staff, helping to guide the development of their work from concept to performance.
The completed piece (approximately 4–6 minutes) will be presented as part of NEBT’s Rising Voices performance in March, a showcase celebrating student choreography and emerging creative voices.
Eligibility Requirements:
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Open to high school and collegiate students
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Applicants should have a strong interest in choreography and artistic leadership
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Must be available for Saturday afternoon rehearsals from January 9, 2027 – February 27, 2027
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Must be able to rehearse at our studio in Avon, Connecticut
The selected choreographer will:
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Create an original work on NEBT Pre-Professional Program dancers
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Receive mentorship and feedback from NEBT’s Artistic Staff
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Gain experience leading rehearsals and working with a pre-professional cast
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Have their work performed in NEBT’s Rising Voices showcase
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Receive video and photo documentation of their work
Program Timeline:
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Application Deadline: October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
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Rehearsal Period: January 9–February 27, 2027 (Saturday afternoons)
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Performance: March 2027 (Rising Voices)
Applicants will be asked to submit:
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Basic personal information (Name, age, school, contact information)
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A brief statement (150–250 words) Why are you interested in choreographing, and what excites you about creating work on dancers in a structured rehearsal environment?
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A short project idea (1–2 paragraphs) Describe your choreographic concept. Please include details such as:
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Movement style or approach
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Theme or inspiration
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Music
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Approximate number of dancers (4–8 recommended)
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Optional: Video sample of movement or choreography (this can include classwork, improvisation, or previous choreography if available)