Harkness Center Healthy Dancer Initiative

About the Initiative

A program of the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Langone Health in partnership with Gibney, Mark Morris Dance Center, and Broadway Dance Center. 

The Harkness Center Healthy Dancer Initiative (HCHDI) provides a cohort of professional dancers in financial need with free wellness workshops to encourage a sound, holistic approach to self-care and aid in career longevity and subsidized classes at three of New York City’s premiere dance centers.

Benefits

  • Free injury prevention and wellness workshops led by Harkness Center for Dance Injuries staff.
  • Free Injury Prevention Assessment conducted by the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.
  • $5 dance technique and somatic classes at Gibney​, Mark Morris Dance Center​, and Broadway Dance Center. Dancers may take up to 25 classes over the six-month term across the two centers. All adult drop-in classes are included.
  • Gatherings with the HCHDI cohort at Gibney, Mark Morris, ​Broadway Dance Center and Harkness Center locations​.

Dancers are eligible based on financial need – gross household income is equal to or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – and accepted by lottery into each six-month term. View Income Threshold chart.

Application Details

Applications for the current cohort have closed. Check back soon for updates on future cohorts and application opportunities.

About the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries

As the world’s leading clinical program in Dance Medicine, the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Langone Health (HCDI) has dedicated itself to enhancing the health, well-being and quality of life of dancers and dance companies by providing breakthrough approaches to injury prevention, advanced medical treatment, education and training, and state-of-the-art research. HCDI is expanding its reach through the new Harkness Center Healthy Dancer Initiative, a wellness program in partnership with Gibney and like-minded organizations. For more information about HCDI programs and services, go to www.danceinjury.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible?

Professional and aspiring professional dancers are eligible based on financial need which is determined based on income and household size.

View the Income Threshold chart to see if you qualify.

Am I required to take classes at all dance centers?

We encourage participants to visit all centers over the course of the program to experience a wider variety of teachers, styles, and environments. However, there are no requirements or quotas.

Do I have to live in New York to qualify?

Please note that the HCHDI program is targeted to dancers residing in the New York City metro area as it is primarily composed of in-person offerings.

How many applicants are accepted per term?

60 dancers are accepted for each six-month term. Please note: Only complete and qualified applications will be entered into the lottery.

May I apply more than once?

Yes, all are welcome to reapply each term.

If I participated in a previous term, may I apply for another?

Dancers who have already participated in HCHDI are welcome to reapply each term, but please note that priority is given to first-time participants.

What are selected participants expected to do?
  • Use full benefits (take 25 $5 classes within the 6-month term).
  • Participate in an Injury Prevention Assessment at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.
  • Plan to attend the Injury Prevention workshop and any of additional workshops offered during the term.
How do I calculate my income?

1. Identify all of your sources of income. Include income from:

  •  Employment (W-2 or 1099)
  •  Self-employment
  •  Other sources of income

Some examples:

  • Regular paychecks (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly)
  • Cash tips
  • Annual bonuses
  • Child support
  • Pension payments
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Any other recurring income

2. Convert each source into an annual amount.

  • Use your gross income (before taxes and deductions) for wages from an employer.
  • Use your net income (after business expenses) for self-employment income.
  • Convert weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or other recurring payments into a yearly total.

3. Add everything together.

  • Your total annual income is the sum of all annual income sources.
How do I determine family size and who should be included in my household?

Members of your household include:

  • Spouse
  • Registered domestic partner
  • Dependents
  • Joint tax filer

Roommates or visitors do not make up your household for tax or income reporting purposes, unless you claim them as dependents.