Founded in 2022, the Asian American Ballet Project (AABP) is the very first Asian American ballet company, ever. AABP’s mission is to present Asian American dancers on stage together in all-Asian American productions. AABP aims to tell stories from our unique perspectives and transform how audiences see Asian Americans in performance, from unexpected to accepted.

We perform ballets that have never been performed solely by Asian Americans while also reworking traditional favorites through an AAPI artistic lens. We draw on our cultural heritage to present ballets based on Asian folktales and share Asian American experiences that are often hidden or untold, such as transracial adoption. Finally, we showcase the work of up-and-coming AAPI choreographers who have the unique opportunity of setting their ballets on all-Asian American casts.

AABP urges all interested Asian American-identifying choreographers to apply. Interested choreographers do not need to have presented work before as we would like to open this opportunity to those who may not have other doors open to them. However, experienced choreographers are also welcome and should include a work sample of a recently presented ballet if possible. Past AABP choreographers are also welcome to apply.

There are no age or location restrictions although out-of-state choreographers should be aware that housing and per diem are not included in the residency resources.

In your application, you should consider the make-up of AABP when proposing the type of ballet you are interested in creating. The AABP company is a group of world-class ballet dancers - 2 men, 5 women, and several high-school aged trainees (amount varies by the season.) Most of our repertoire falls under the umbrella of classical and contemporary ballet, though we occasionally perform contemporary, modern, and folk dance styles as well.

The choreographers selected to work with the company will each have 15 rehearsal hours to prepare their ballets. Choreographers should pace themselves to ensure they can complete their ballets within this time frame. Therefore, your proposed concept should be achievable within a 10-15 minute ballet.

AABP will offer a variety of resources to allow the choreographers in residence to create their best work and grow as artists.

• $1000 stipend

• travel reimbursement up to $250

• 2 week residency including 15 hours of dedicated rehearsals with AABP company

• Opportunity to work with an AAPI musical collaborator at no cost to choreographer

• Costume and prop budget of $350

• Audience and industry professional feedback

• 4K photo and video documentation

• Credit by name on publicity materials

• Opportunity to choreograph for the first and only Asian American ballet company 

• 1 in 4 chance at winning a monetary prize to further choreographic pursuits (amount TBD)

Interested applicants should submit the following materials via email to beth@asianamericanballetproject.org by October 13, 2026 at 11:59pm:

• Artist biography (100 words or less)

• Artist head shot or dance shot (portrait orientation)

• Interview video: speaking to camera, answering the following prompts: (2 minutes max, portrait orientation)

Prompts:

1. State your name and preferred pronouns.

2. Introduce your work sample/s and explain how they are reflective of your choreographic style and how they relate to the type of ballet you envision creating on AABP.

3. What makes you Asian American? (What is your ethnic background, what generation are you, etc.)

4. How did you become interested in choreography? (Can briefly describe your professional dance experience if applicable.)

5. Why are you interested in choreographing for AABP?

6. What type of ballet you would like to choreograph for AABP? (This does not have to be a fully formed idea with a musical selection, specific number of dancers, etc. Just let us know about a concept you want to explore or a narrative you want to tell.)

7. Why do you think your ballet will resonate with the Asian Americans in our audience?

• Work sample: (2 minutes max, landscape orientation)

• Each work sample should be a video clip of your original choreography

• You may chose to share one 2 minute clip or up to four 30 second clips but each individual work sample should be at least 30 seconds of continuous movement - no compilations of short clips please.

• Choreography can include performance or rehearsal footage. If you do not have this type of footage, please record yourself dancing a phrase of your own choreography. (Does not necessarily have to be the choreography you would set on the company.)

We appreciate your careful attention to these guidelines, they help us review every application fairly and ensure each artist has the same opportunity to be considered. Applications that do not meet the submission requirements may not be eligible for review.

AABP’s community is front and center throughout this opportunity. Community members will get to know applicants through their interviews and work samples and vote for their favorites on our website. The community vote will be open for two weeks. After the voting closes, AABP will contact the four applicants with the highest number of votes. If one of these applicants cannot accept the residency, AABP will reach out to the applicant with the next highest number of votes. These four choreographers will work with the AABP dancers during the Choreographer Residency Program.

AABP will narrow down the initial pool of applicants to 10-15 choreographers paying particular attention to each applicant’s:

• Enthusiasm for working with AABP

• Alignment with AABP's mission

• Creativity - original choreographic voice

• Excellence - dynamic work samples

Applications Open: Sept 1, 2026

Applications Close: Oct 13, 2026

Community Vote Opens: Nov 2, 2026

Community Vote Closes: Nov 16, 2026

Decision Notifications: Dec 1-31, 2026

Planning Meetings: Jan 1-31, 2027

Residency: May 24-June 4, 2027, June 7-18, 2027, or June 21-July 2, 2027 (exact residency dates TBD)

Technical Rehearsal: June 24 or July 8, 2027 (not mandatory to attend, exact date TBD)

Performance Date: June 25 or July 9, 2027 (not mandatory to attend, exact date TBD)