Since 1999, the American Harlequin company has sponsored a dance scholarship program in order to help young people pursue a career in dance. Scholarship recipients are chosen in a random drawing, therefore the awards are not based on merit, talent or financial status. Harlequin selects 20 people per year in the random drawing. Awards include one $5,000 scholarship, two $3,000 scholarships, three $2,000 scholarships, two $1,000 scholarships and 12 $500 scholarships. Applicants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens between the ages of 15 and 21 in order to qualify. All applicants must also be enrolled in either a public or private dance school. Applications for the scholarship may be completed online, faxed or mailed to American Harlequin.
American Harlequin Corporation
Dance Scholarship Program
1531 Glen Avenue
Moorestown, NJ 08057
800-642-6440
harlequinfloors.com
Every year, the Hall of Fame Dance Foundation awards 10 $1,000 scholarships and 20 $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. To apply, a student must be a dancer in senior high school and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. A letter of recommendation from the student's dance studio director is required, and the applicant must write a one page essay on the importance of dance her life and future. Points will be awarded by the directors of the Hall of Fame Dance Foundation based on the applicants GPA, letter of recommendation and personal essay. Those with the highest number of points will receive scholarships. All awarded scholarship money goes directly to the college that the winner will attend.
Hall of Fame Dance Foundation
3160 Haggerty Rd., Suite E-F
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
866-326-2399
halloffamedance.com/foundation
The prestigious Youth America Grand Prix is the largest student ballet competition in the world, and awards over $250,000 in scholarships every year. This scholarship competition was created in 1999 by Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, former dancers in the world famous Bolshoi Ballet. Dancers must first compete in regional semi-finals, and winners will then be selected to move on to the final competition in New York City. Scholarships are awarded in a number of categories based on scoring in the final rounds. The Youth America Grand Prix is open to dance students from ages 9 to 19. Dancers may perform solo routines, as part of an ensemble or both. Contestants will be separated into age divisions and may perform classical ballet or contemporary dance routines. A fee is required to participate.
Youth America Grand Prix
304 Park Ave South, Suite 1004
New York, NY 10010
212-590-2325
yagp.org