Fostering artistic creation
CN D is France’s leading resource centre for dance. With sites in Pantin and Lyon, it offers choreographers, dancers and professional dance companies a range of programmes, including residencies, studio space and financial support for new works. This page outlines all of these programmes.
CN D: supporting choreographic creation
The Centre national de la danse is dedicated to supporting choreographic creation in all its diversity — from emerging talent to heritage works, and from experimental research to the final stages of a production.
This support takes many complementary forms: the provision of rehearsal spaces, financial co-production funding, technical support, access to professional resources and the media library’s archive collections, networking opportunities… All of this is available at two venues across the country: the CN D in Pantin (14 studios) and the CN D in Lyon (3 studios).
Each season, hundreds of companies and artists work in the CN D’s studios, at various stages of their careers and projects.
Due to renovation work on the façades (2026–2029) of the Pantin building, access to the studios is significantly reduced. The support schemes have been adapted accordingly.
Dispositives to support creative work
Associated artists
The Associate Artist scheme is aimed at an artist recognised within the field of choreographic creation, who is highly active but does not have their own venue. Over a two-year period, the artist is invited to draw inspiration from all of the CN D’s activities and receives financial support (co-production for two separate projects), priority access to rehearsal studios, technical support and access to all of the CN D’s resources (media library, regular training sessions, workshops).
- In Pantin and Lyon
- Following identification and selection by the CN D
Supported artists
Designed for emerging artists identified and selected by the CN D, the ‘artists in residence’ scheme offers comprehensive support for the development of their artistic practice — assistance with administrative set-up, financial support (co-production for two projects), workspaces and access to all the CN D’s services. A support mechanism designed for those building their careers.
- In Pantin and Lyon
- Following identification and selection by the CN D
Artists in creation
The ‘Artists in Creation’ scheme supports a specific choreographic project currently in development. The artist or company benefiting from the scheme receives co-production funding for a project, priority access to rehearsal studios, technical support, and access to professional resources and the CN D’s media library. This scheme is open to any artist working in the fields of choreography and the performing arts.
- In Pantin only
- Subject to identification and selection by the CN D
Residencies
For professional dance companies holding a performing arts organiser’s licence and having at least one partner and/or a performance date, the CN D offers residencies lasting between one and three weeks. The residencies offered by the CN D are provided without financial support or technical assistance from the CN D. The CN D makes its resources (spaces, advice, media library, etc.) available to the teams in residence.
- In Pantin
- Rolling applications
Provision of studios
The studio provision scheme is a specialised initiative for the short-term hire of spaces (one to three days). It is a non-selective scheme, open to all legally established dance companies, intended primarily for rehearsals. A three-year agreement is offered to companies to enable them to benefit from this scheme more seamlessly.
Due to building works at the CN D in Pantin, this scheme closed in 2025 for the Pantin studios. It is currently only available at the CN D in Lyon.
- In Lyon
- Rolling applications
Résidences internationales
De nombreux partenariats internationaux sont à l’oeuvre afin d’accueillir sur des périodes allant de 2 à 3 mois des artistes internationaux en résidence de création ou de recherche. Un accompagnement individualisé leur est proposé tout au long de leur temps de résidence au CN D.
Residency program 2027 Cité internationale des arts with CN D
Practical questions
Do applications lead to a program at the CN D?
No. Being hosted in a studio or artist-in-residence programme does not imply that a performance will be scheduled at the CN D in the future.
Do you have to be based in France to apply?
Most schemes are open to both French and international teams. The Cité internationale des arts programme, on the other hand, is reserved for artists living outside France.
How do I apply?
Each scheme has its own procedures, timetables and selection criteria. Please refer to the page dedicated to each scheme for eligibility criteria, the documents required and application deadlines.
Workspaces
14 studios in Pantin
3 studios in Lyon
CN D Media Library
1 accommodation facility
Certain schemes only
Support
Professional resources
Networking with professionals
Technical support
Certain schemes only