Gibney Independent Training Program

12+ WEEKLY CLASSES

Students choose 12-14 weekly classes from Gibney’s Open Class Schedule+. Gibney holds over 60 Open Classes weekly in a wide range of techniques and levels including Contemporary, Gaga, Countertechnique, Ballet, Street/Club Styles, Somatic practices, and more. Students take class alongside NYC professionals, explore new styles, and delve into their own personal interests.

STUDENT GATHERINGS

Students and program staff come together twice per month to meet and connect. These meetings offer students the opportunity to share with one another and ask questions. Each meeting concludes with a discussion covering various topics including setting goals, artistic challenges, budgeting and networking tips, producing your own work, and more.

ARTISTIC ADVISORS

Based on their unique interests and goals, students are matched with an active professional artist in the New York City dance community to act as their artistic advisor. Students meet monthly with their artistic advisor throughout the course of the program, for a minimum 1 hour per meeting. These meetings will allow you to talk openly, ask questions, and receive career guidance from a professional artist.

ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT

Every student will have access to individualized support from the Gibney Independent Training Program Staff. One-on-one check-ins will be held at the beginning and end of your program to set goals, discuss progress, reflect on the program, and develop plans post-program completion. Students may schedule additional meetings with program Staff to discuss any questions that may arise.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

We have several partner organizations that contribute to our classes programming, including:

• Gaga Dance USA programs weekly classes in Gaga technique
• Movement Research programs many Physical Inquiry & Somatic Practices
• New Dance Collective is composed of our Simonson Technique faculty, with an alignment-based approach to movement
• The Playground NYC programs repertory exploration labs with current choreographers who are often visiting from other cities or countries
• SpringboardX, presents several annual intensives with Springboard Danse Montréal artists in a non-audition setting

Time to Complete Program: 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
Minimum Hours per Month: 88 Hours
Start Date: First Monday of any Month
Certificate Achieved: Certificate of Completion, Contemporary Dance Program 

Weekly Requirements (22 instructional hours):

• 5 Daily Technique Classes (10 hours)
• 2 Physical Inquiry & Somatic Practices Classes (4 hours)
• 4 Elective Classes (8 hours) 

Students in the Choreographic Process Track must complete a Choreographic Project in addition to weekly classes. This project offers students the opportunity to create a performance from start to finish with the support of a professional dance institution.

Time to Complete Program: 6 or 12 months
Minimum Hours per Month: 88 Hours
Start Date: First Monday of September or March
Certificate Achieved: Certificate of Completion, Choreographic Process Program

Weekly Requirements (22 instructional hours):

• 5 Daily Technique (10 hours)
• 2 Physical Inquiry & Somatic Practices (4 hours)
• 2 Creative Exploration / Performative Techniques & Composition (4 hours)
• 2 Electives (4 hours)

Choreographic Project components include:

• $100 toward Gibney Studio Space+ each month
• One shared free performance in The Theater at Gibney+ with Gibney’s in-house production team, in February or August
• Marketing materials, professional programs, and front of house management
• One camera shoot of final performance by Gibney’s Digital Media Initiative+

Time to Complete Program: 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
Minimum Hours per Month: 88 Hours
Start Date: First Monday of any Month
Certificate Achieved: Certificate of Completion, Ballet Studies Program 

Weekly Requirements (22 instructional hours):

• 5 Daily Technique- Ballet (10 hours)
• 2 Daily Technique- Contemporary (4 hours)
• 2 Physical Inquiry & Somatic Practices (4 hours)
• 2 Electives (4 hours)

Students in the Independent Study track develop their own concentration based on their unique interests and career goals culminating in an informal final presentation. 

Time to Complete Program: 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
Minimum Hours per Month: 88 Hours
Start Date: First Monday of any Month
Certificate Achieved: Certificate of Completion, Independent Study Program
Concentrations available in: Pedagogy/Teaching, Physical Theater, Somatic Practices, Community Action

Weekly Requirements (22 instructional hours):

• 14 Instructional Hours in Concentration
• 8 Instructional Hours in Other Disciplines

Additional Projects to be completed within curriculum:

• Independent Research Project, related to Concentration
• Final Project Presentation

Final presentation format may include a performance, class instructed, formal presentation, written project, or other form, based on student’s concentration, with approval from Gibney Independent Training Program Staff.

Students may elect to add a performance option to the Independent Study track for an additional fee. Please review the Choreographic Process Track information for Choreographic Project components.  

Students in the Contemporary Dance, Ballet Studies, and Independent Study track may start the first Monday of any Month. Students in the Choreographic Track may start the first Monday of September or March. A September start date is recommended for all students. 

Interested students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications are reviewed year-round. You must apply more than 1 month before your desired start date, and more than 2 months in advance if you are also applying for visa sponsorship.

Applicants must submit a $50 Application Fee to be considered.

APPLY NOW+

After applying and submitting an application fee, Gibney Independent Training Program staff will contact you through email to schedule an interview with you, either via Zoom call or in person. In the interview, we will learn more about your interests and goals, review program components, and answer any questions you may have. 

Please note that interviews will not be scheduled if you have not submitted the application fee.

All applicants must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the program. Gibney does not have a maximum age limit for this program.

The Independent Training Program is geared toward dancers preparing to begin, or recently beginning, their professional career in dance. Applicants should have some prior dance experience as they will be dancing alongside professionals. As students may build their own class schedule from Gibney’s diverse offerings, all dancers will find a challenging and fulfilling schedule. 

M-1 Student Visa Sponsorship is available for international dancers. Learn more about Gibney student visa sponsorship here.

English Proficiency is not required, though an understanding of English is strongly encouraged to take full advantage of all curriculum.

If you are interested in studying at Gibney and you are in NYC, please contact us at jessiek@gibneydance.org to schedule a visit. Come for a tour of our spaces, to take a class, and to meet Independent Training Program Staff. We are always happy to meet with new students! 

THREE (3) MONTH PROGRAM

Tuition: $2,700
Due Within 2 Weeks of Acceptance: $1,350
Estimated Living Expenses: $4,800

SIX (6) MONTH PROGRAM

Tuition: $5,250
Due Within 2 Weeks of Acceptance: $2,625
Estimated Living Expenses: $9,600

NINE (9) MONTH PROGRAM

Tuition: $7,650
Due Within 2 Weeks of Acceptance: $3,825
Estimated Living Expenses: $14,400 

TWELVE (12) MONTH PROGRAM

Tuition: $9,900
Due Within 2 Weeks of Acceptance: $4,950
Estimated Living Expenses: $19,200

SIX (6) MONTH PROGRAM

Tuition: $6,550
Due Within 2 Weeks of Acceptance: $3,275
Estimated Living Expenses: $9,600

Includes: $100 toward space each month, a produced performance in The Theater at Gibney with professional tech production, marketing, programs, and management, and professional video footage of the performance.

TWELVE (12) MONTH PROGRAM

Tuition: $11,800
Due Within 2 Weeks of Acceptance: $5,900
Estimated Living Expenses: $19,250
Includes: $100 toward space each month, a produced performance in The Theater at Gibney with professional tech production, marketing, programs, and management, and professional video footage of the performance.

*If you choose to add a performance option to the Independent Study track, tuition will include an additional $1,300 for six months and an additional $1,900 for twelve months.

Gibney does not offer scholarships for the Independent Training Program as tuition is priced based on a discounted class and performance rate. Gibney staff can provide accepted students with a formal letter of acceptance in support of external fundraising and scholarship applications.

Acceptable methods of payment for tuition include wire transfer, credit/debit card, check, or cash. Checks must be drawn on a US bank in US Dollars. Cash payments are accepted in person only (please do not mail cash!) at a scheduled time.

Note that the non-refundable $50 application fee must be paid with a credit card.

Tuition payments may be paid in two or more installments. Half the tuition is due within two weeks of acceptance. This tuition deposit holds your place in the program and is non-refundable. The remainder of tuition is due at least one week before the first day of your program.

Application fees and tuition deposits are non-refundable. 

If you are applying for Visa sponsorship and your visa is not approved in your home country, Gibney will refund 90% of tuition paid to date, prior to the start of the program.  

No refunds are given once the program has started, regardless of program completion or withdrawal. Dismissal from the program will not constitute a reason for any refund.

Attendance in all classes plays a critical role in student success. Progress is difficult and often unachievable without regular attendance. If a student fails to complete weekly course requirements for more than one week consecutively, they will be asked to meet with Program Staff to discuss the status of their participation in the program. It is the duty of the student to maintain their status by respecting the class attendance requirements. Failure to meet these requirements could result in dismissal from the program.

Students may be asked to leave the program if it becomes clear that their intention is not to seriously study dance while in the Independent Training Program, or if they are consistently unable to complete attendance requirements. Each student is expected to exhibit professional behavior by showing respect toward staff, faculty and fellow students. At any point, if Gibney staff feels you have demonstrated behavior in violation of our Code of Conduct, it may be cause for dismissal from the program.

Students are responsible for finding their own housing for the duration of the Independent Training Program. In order to assist students in choosing the housing arrangement that works best for them, Gibney can provide a list of housing opportunities as a helpful starting point. Gibney is not in any way affiliated and does not benefit financially from these presented opportunities. The list can be shared upon acceptance into the program, by request.

Students who successfully complete the International Training Program will receive a Certificate of Completion.

You may qualify for academic credit through your College or University! Gibney is not an accredited school, but many past participants have been able to obtain course credit while enrolled in a university. Students have joined the Gibney Independent Training program for a semester or summer term. Inquire with your school.

Past students in the Gibney Training Programs have gone on to…present their own work, perform with major touring companies, launch their own dance companies, publish books and articles, join the Gibney Staff, open their own dance studios, direct university dance departments, teach dance, receive BFAs, MFAs, and PhDs.

Independent Training Students have joined Gibney from all over the world! 

Take a look at our map of past and current Gibney Training students.