Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships, and Certifications
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.