Archive: Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships

In collaboration with Balanced Body’s Diversity in Pilates initiatives, Paragon Pilates and Physical Therapy offers scholarships for our Pilates Teacher Training Program to qualified candidates!

Applications only accepted Tuesday, July 1 — Tuesday, July 15.

The goal of the Balanced Body Community Expansion Scholarship Program is to increase the diversity of the Pilates profession by training teachers who come from Black and other underrepresented communities.

Paragon is proud to be one of 12 Authorized Training Centers worldwide currently participating in this program!

Visit our website to learn more about the program and how to apply!

Applications are open for Bridge Fund for Dance Program. The fund invests in new and existing dance programming in Minneapolis.

June 2, 2025 (Minneapolis): The City of Minneapolis’ Arts & Cultural Affairs Department (ACA) is pleased to announce the Bridge Fund for Dance Program, a new funding opportunity designed to support the local dance ecosystem and broader dance community. This program aims to energize Minneapolis’ internationally recognized dance scene while attracting artists, audiences, and creative experiences to downtown.

Funding will be used to invest in Minneapolis and Minnesota-based choreographers, dance companies, event producers and performing arts organizations for the creation of new and existing creative dance and choreography projects in downtown Minneapolis. A total of $450,000 is available for the 2025 Bridge Fund for Dance application round. Selected applicants will receive grants of between $5,000 and $30,000.

Projects must align with one of the following three categories:

Development and Research Residency Support ($5,000 – $15,000):
Funding can be used for choreographers, independent dance artists, companies, and collectives, to host 1–3-week creative development and research residences to incubate new dance ideas, innovation and collaboration.

Production and Tech Week Support ($15,000 – $30,000)
Funding can be used for expanding/adding additional, final production elements to a confirmed future public presentation.

Presentation Support ($15,000 – $30,000):
Funding can be used to incentivize new or expand existing, fully produced dance showcases/presentations/events in Minneapolis.

Applications for the program are open now through Tuesday, July 15.

More details including applicant and location eligibility, project examples and evaluation criteria also be found on the ACA Bridge Fund for Dance webpage.

Six Minnesota dance artists selected for 2025 McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers:
Congratulations to the new 2025 McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers, recognizing 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.

2025 McKnight Choreographer Fellows: Pamela Gleason, Emily Michaels King, and Kayla Schiltgen

Choreographer Selection Panel:
Barak adé Soleil (Minneapolis, MN)
Jinza Thayer (Saint Paul, MN)
Rika Lin – (Yoshinojo Fujima) (Chicago, IL)
T. Ayo Alston (Chicago, IL)

2025 McKnight Dancer Fellows: Andrew Lester, Eva Mohn, and Cecil Neal

Dancer Selection Panel:
Alexandra Eady (Saint Paul, MN)
Irene Hsiao (Chicago, IL) 
Carlo Antonio Villanueva (Minneapolis, MN)
Vershawn Sanders-Ward (Chicago, IL)

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 are scheduled to premiere in September 2026.

The McKnight Fellowships for Choreography and Dance are designed to enrich and strengthen our community by recognizing the accomplishments of individual choreographers and dancers and supporting their artistic growth.

Guidelines for the 2026 McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers will be available in August 2025 at mcknightdancechoreo.org.

The full applications for McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography are now open. This program intends to recognize and support dance artists living and working in Minnesota who are beyond early practice and demonstrate sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence.

The final deadline for applications is today, March 19 at 3:00pm CST.
Please plan to prepare and submit your application early.
Note: There have been a few updates to our program application and guidelines.

View Fellowship Program guidelines and more information:

• McKnight Fellowships for Dancers
• McKnight Fellowship for Choreographers

The full applications for McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography are now open. This program intends to recognize and support dance artists living and working in Minnesota who are beyond early practice and demonstrate sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence.

The final deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 19 at 3:00pm CST.
Please plan to prepare and submit your application early.
Note: There have been a few updates to our program application and guidelines.

View Fellowship Program guidelines and more information:

• McKnight Fellowships for Dancers
• McKnight Fellowship for Choreographers

The full applications for McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography are now open. This program intends to recognize and support dance artists living and working in Minnesota who are beyond early practice and demonstrate sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence.

The final deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 19 at 3:00pm CST.
Please plan to prepare and submit your application early.
Note: There have been a few updates to our program application and guidelines.

View Fellowship Program guidelines and more information:

• McKnight Fellowships for Dancers
• McKnight Fellowship for Choreographers

The full applications for McKnight Fellowships in Dance and Choreography are now open. This program intends to recognize and support dance artists living and working in Minnesota who are beyond early practice and demonstrate sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence.

The final deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 19 at 3:00pm CST.
Please plan to prepare and submit your application early.
Note: There have been a few updates to our program application and guidelines.

View Fellowship Program guidelines and more information:

• McKnight Fellowships for Dancers
• McKnight Fellowship for Choreographers

The McKnight Fellowship for Dancers and Choreographers offers an informational webinar about the application process:

February 6 at 7:00pm

This hour-long presentations will be geared towards new applicants but are also a good opportunity to refresh your thinking about the application materials. We will also address the additional video platforms accepted this year and answer questions about that change. We will be joined by a recent McKnight Fellow, who will offer insights from an applicant’s point of view and allow plenty of time for specific questions.

This sessions, led by Program Director Dana Kassel, will be accessed through Zoom’s online meeting site.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP to mcknight.fellowships@artspace.org. You will then receive a Zoom link.