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Top 19 Dance Scholarships in January 2023
Dance has been a part of human history for as long as we can remember. It has always been a way to express oneself physically and spatially, and is an important part of many festivities. There is also an art and science to dance that scholars study in academic environments. Dance scholarships are available so that students can develop a greater understanding of this age-old art form with less of a financial burden.
If you are a dancer or wish to study dance, here are some of the best scholarships in the dance disciplines for this year!
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies: If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
Scholarships360 Exclusive Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, community college and graduate students.
Sponsored Easy scholarship open to all high school, college, community and graduate students. Sponsored Open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Scholarships360 Exclusive Open to all postsecondary students, regardless of the type of training/education they are pursuing. Offered by Princess Grace Foundation-USA Open to U.S. based artists currently living and working in the United States. Offered by Classic Center Cultural Foundation Open to high school students in Northeast Georgia who are involved in the performing arts. Offered by Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Open to high school seniors in Iowa who intend to pursue a major in the arts at an Iowa university. Offered by Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Open to current and incoming Black/African-American postsecondary students majoring in a visual or performing arts field. Offered by Brown Girls Do Ballet Full-time, female undergraduate students of color with a strong dance background. Priority given to first-gen students with financial need. Offered by Francisco Gella Dance Works Open to Black, college-bound, intermediate and advanced dancers between 7 and 22 years of age. Sponsored Easy scholarship open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students. Offered by Entertainment Community Fund Professional dancers of 5+ years who are seeking occupational skills training in a certification or licensure program outside of dance. Offered by Peter Belin Open to individuals planning to make their chosen fine art their life's work. Being from Pennsylvania is preferred, but not required. This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications. Offered by YoungArts High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors passionate about dance, music, or writing who submit an essay/video showcasing their talents. This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications. Offered by AmeriCheer & AmeriDance Family of Brands Open to high school juniors and seniors who perform a dance or cheer routine at the AmeriCheer/AmeriDance event or camp. This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications. Sponsored Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school students. Sponsored Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.19 Dance Scholarships in January 2023
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
$25,000 No Essay Scholarship
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
Princess Grace Awards Program
Classic Center Cultural Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship
Iowa Scholarships for the Arts
CBC Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship
Brown Girls Do, Inc. College Scholarship
Joan Myers Brown Equity Scholarship
$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Entertainment Community Fund Professional Development Scholarship
F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship
YoungArts Competition
Athlete Honors Scholarship Program
$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
College-specific dance scholarships
George Mason University Dance Talent Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who demonstrate outstanding talent at an audition. To renew the scholarship each year, recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA, participate fully in all department performance activities and be a good university citizen
- Amount: $3,000-$5,000 per year
- Deadline: Schedule an audition
Alma College Dance Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students must apply to the college and must audition for the Theater and Dance Department. Students must be accepted to the college before they can apply for any scholarship awards
- Amount: $1,500/year – full scholarship
- Deadline: Depends on the audition dates.
Hofstra University Dance Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students must be enrolled and participate in an audition
- Amount: $500-$5,000
- Deadline: Rolling application
St. Olaf College Dance Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students must be enrolled/accepted into the college and participate in auditions
- Amount: $4,000-$5,000
- Deadline: Depends on scheduled audition
Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Eligibility: High school seniors with talents in art, dance, debate, music, and theater
- Amount: $64,000, which equals $8,000 per semester, renewable for eight semesters of undergraduate study (20 scholarships awarded each year)
- Deadline: December 1 of each year
How to win scholarships for dance students
Now that you’ve done the hard work of finding scholarships to apply for, you must complete the next step, which is writing an application that stands out! As a dancer, you know that competition can be fierce, and starting off on the right foot is key!
Meaning you’ll want to write a winning scholarship essay straight from the start. Additionally, competitive scholarships may ask for you to write a scholarship resume or just to write about yourself. From the basics to the specifics, we have you covered. We even have entire articles dedicated to helping you start a scholarship essay and end it!
The effort you put into your scholarships will be noticeable to those reviewing your application. Take your time, do your research and try your best!
Resources for dance students
American College Dance Association
The American College Dance Association unites students studying dance across the country, and hosts conferences and showcases on national and regional levels. Joining the ACDA is a great way to learn more about the broader field of dance, get inspiration from across the country, and meet new people.
Body-Mind Centering Organization
Dance requires a broad skillset, and one of the most important factors for students is their connection to their bodies. This organization offers workshops and conferences to help participants center themselves in their bodies. These are skills that could help any dancer!
Frequently asked questions about dance scholarships
What colleges give scholarships for dance?
Many colleges across the country offer scholarships for valued dancers. One of the best things students seeking dance, or any other scholarships, can do is check the financial aid website of the colleges they are applying to. The earlier the better, since sometimes awards are on a “first come, first served” basis.
Does UCLA offer dance scholarships?
UCLA offers the Jean Irwin Dance Fund scholarship, which is awarded to UCLA dancing students that have a financial need.
What GPA do I need to get a full scholarship?
There is no set number on the GPA scale. In general, scholarships tend to be based on a variety of factors. As a general rule of thumb, scholarships tend to require a B average, or a 3.0 GPA.
