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Choreographic Lab

Dance engagement supporting the creative process of emerging choreographers

COCA’s Choreographic Lab offers a unique opportunity for creatives to explore new approaches to dance-making.

One selected artist will spend two days per week, over a five-week period in a creative development process with COCA’s Pre-Professional Division Dance Program students.
The artist will build a brand-new, 5–10 minute work that will have an informal showing at the end of the process and be mounted with full production elements in COCA’s annual spring concert.
The artist will also lead four technique classes and receive mentorship from four prominent choreographers.

For 2025, COCA seeks to find an artist who is interested in working with classical vocabulary and with COCA’s Pre-Professional Division ballet company, Ballet Eclectica. This project comes with a fee for choreography and a teaching stipend. The 2025 Choreographic Lab runs September 8–October 11. The artist must have availability during Ballet Eclectica’s rehearsals, Mondays from 7:30–9:00PM and Saturdays from 1:30–4:00PM.

Choreographic Lab was launched by Antonio Douthit-Boyd and Kirven Douthit-Boyd in Fall 2021 to support the creative process of emerging choreographers. Each year, the Choreographic Lab focuses on developing the choreographic and teaching practices of one select choreographer.

Choreographic Lab Mentors

2025 Choreographic Lab mentors to be announced. Past mentors for the Choreographic Lab have included Anthony Burrell, Nina Flagg, Claudia Schreier, Gemma Bond, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Jamar Roberts, and Clarice Young.

Application Process

Individuals looking to develop new work and explore the creative process are invited to apply for the Choreographic Lab. Applicants must express a vision for the kind of work they wish to create and be open to dialogue with Artistic Directors, and other professional mentors, to shift through ideas and concepts.

The application period for the 2025 Choreographic Lab is now open. Applications are due by June 1.

Choreographic Lab Application

To apply for the Choreographic Lab, complete the application below by June 1. If you have work samples to submit, email to Kirven Douthit-Boyd at kdouthit-boyd@cocastl.org. COCA will notify the selected artist by June 8.

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Mason Cummings Shares Choreographic Lab Experience

COCA alumnus and choreographer Mason Cummings brought new work to COCA’s stage for our inaugural Choreographic Lab Showcase in 2021. Mason was the first choreographer to participate in COCA’s Choreographic Lab. Hear from Mason about his experience!