The Trisha Brown Dance Company will perform Travelogue in Spoleto, Italy on July 11th and 12th.

Cunningham Technique® Teacher Training Program

Aug 3-7, 2026, at the Mark Morris Dance Center

Aug 10-14, 2026, at the Juilliard School

 

Workshop Description

Our Teacher Training Program is a two-week intensive workshop aimed at preparing participants to become educators of Cunningham Technique. The workshop’s daily sessions are led by former Merce Cunningham Dance Company members and other expert teachers of the technique. This program is designed for small cohorts of no more than ten individuals to create an intimate environment and a personalized experience focused on in-depth discussion and teaching practice.

The workshop includes a thorough review and analysis of each Technique class exercise as well as related classes such as Cunningham Technique Basic Principles, Modifying Classes for Different Student Levels, Placement and Body Awareness, Communication Tools when Working with a Live Accompanist, A Basic History of Cunningham’s Choreographic Work, and Using Repertory as Inspiration for Class Material.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend the Merce Cunningham Trust’s regularly scheduled open classes, followed by group discussions with reflections from both student and educator perspectives. Throughout the two weeks, participants will practice teaching a 45-minute warm-up class to their peers, applying the skills learned the previous week. The final component of the course requires each participant to teach a full 90-minute class to a group of students in front of a small panel of Cunningham Technique teachers, along with 30 hours of class observation. The class will be scheduled for a later date, either to replace one of the Trust’s regular classes or to be recorded and sent digitally to the panel for review. This final requirement must be completed within six months of the workshop. Participants will have nine months to complete their observation hours.

After completing this workshop, observation hours, and submitting and receiving approval for the 90-minute class, the Merce Cunningham Trust will recognize individuals as authorized teachers of the Cunningham Technique. To retain this status, teachers must submit a class for review every three years (see details below). If the review panel determines that a participant is not yet ready for authorization at any point, the Program Director will work directly with the individual to provide additional support and resources, and a second teaching opportunity will be offered. Our aim is to authorize each applicant and uphold that authorization. 

Following this training program, the Merce Cunningham Trust will hold annual gatherings in person, online, or a combination of both, giving teachers a chance to share and discuss their experiences.

A Teacher Training Committee, consisting of three former company members and educators, will review each application and accept participants based on the outlined qualifications and available program openings. We are seeking candidates with strong foundational training in Cunningham Technique who can demonstrate the work clearly and articulate well-defined professional goals as future teachers and educators. As we limit the number of participants to ensure a personalized experience, please note that priority will be given to those who can immediately implement their training in a regular teaching practice.

*All participants accepted into the program are expected to attend all scheduled classes, lectures, and activities during the two-week program. 

 

Application Requirements:

Applicants must meet several of the following criteria:

  • Prior training in Cunningham Technique at a university or institution with a former Merce Cunningham Dance Company member or other master teacher of the technique
  • A minimum of 100 documented classes taken with the Merce Cunningham Trust or Cunningham Dance Foundation
  • Participation in multiple MCT Fellowship workshops or repertory workshops held at the Westbeth Studio under the Cunningham Dance Foundation
  • Receipt of a Stipend Award(s) for participation in MCT Fellowship workshops
  • Performer in one or more MCTrust Educational Licensing projects
  • Performer in one or more MCTrust Professional Licensing projects
  • Participant in a short-format Teacher Training program offered at Westbeth under the Cunningham Dance Foundation
  • Current teacher of a Cunningham-based Technique at an educational or professional institution
  • Current teacher of Cunningham Technique interested in refreshing and honing your skills as part of professional development

 

The Teacher Training Application form requirements:

  • Narrative biography (200-300 words)
  • Statement of Interest (300-400 words)
  • A viewable link to a headshot and dance photo
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Sample Teaching video if currently teaching a Cunningham-based Technique submitted as a viewable link on Vimeo or YouTube (not as a downloadable file).

The hours for this workshop are typically Mon-Fri 10AM- 4PM.

A detailed description of the curriculum and workshop activities is available here: https://www.mercecunningham.org/activities/mct-teacher-training-details/

To fill out the Teacher Training Program application, click on this link: https://forms.gle/BCQuF2M15eC9xoTN7

The fee for participating in this program is $1400.

If you would like to be considered for a fee reduction, please provide a description of your current financial circumstances on our application. If your employer is able to sponsor this workshop as part of your professional development, kindly refrain from requesting a fee reduction. A limited number of fee reductions will be available, up to 25% of the $1400 tuition.

 

Three-Year-Renewal Process

Every three years, authorized teachers will be required to submit a full 90-minute class for review by a select panel of Cunningham Technique instructors. The class may be recorded and submitted digitally. All panel members will provide constructive feedback to support the educator's ongoing development. Additionally, a small administrative fee of $100 (as of Jan 2026) will be charged to cover renewal-related expenses.

For any further questions or more details, please contact our Program Director, Jennifer Goggans, at jgoggans@mercecunningham.org.

*The Merce Cunningham Trust is under no obligation to employ teachers who complete this training program.