What Dance Scholarships are Available for College?
A wide range of dance scholarships for college may be available to those who qualify. Scholarships for dance majors are for ballet, modern, hip-hop, tap, jazz, choreography, and world dance students. There are also dance education scholarships that could help you prepare to teach dance to others.
Many dance major scholarships are merit based which make a college degree more affordable. You usually must showcase your dancing ability and academic achievements. Award amounts range from smaller sums to full tuition. You might use the dance scholarship to pursue dance in a BA, BFA or MFA degree program at an accredited college.
Some dance college scholarship awards are for high schoolers like the NFAA YoungArts Program. National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Inc. awards cash prizes of between $100 and $10,000. High school students in grades 10 to 12 and dancers between the ages of 15 to 18 could audition.
As an incoming freshman you may qualify for scholarships from the school you enroll in. George Mason University offers two Dance Talent Scholarships to new first year college students. Scholarship recipients must show outstanding talent at an audition. Plus, the award is renewable for up to four years if you maintain a 3.0 GPA.
How Do You Get a Scholarship for Dancers?
There are many sources to check for dance major scholarships. Many local businesses and corporations as well as your state government may offer awards. The Iowa Scholarship for the Arts is for eligible resident undergraduate students with proven artistic ability in dance and fine arts.
Arts foundations, nonprofit schools and performing arts schools may offer scholarship opportunities too. You should also reach out to the dance department of the college. The financial aid office or dance teachers may help you find more scholarships for dancers.
In order to receive a dance scholarship for college, you may have to wow a panel of judges. It could be through an audition, nomination, or an artistic portfolio of taped performances. While talent is important, scholarship funds may be set aside to help those with unmet financial need.
Also, the scholarship provider could ask for details and other info such as:
Letters of recommendation
Minimum cumulative GPA
Full time enrollment in a specific dance program (E.g. BFA with a minor in dance)
Member of a specific organization or minority group (E.g. African American)
Could You Get a Full Ride Scholarship for Dance?
A full ride scholarship for dance may be available to very few dance students. These dance scholarships may get competitive. Besides covering the cost of tuition, full ride awards could pay fees and a stipend for expenses such as housing.
Wake Forest University offers renewable full ride scholarships of $16,000 each on an annual basis. They go to students with exceptional talents in art, dance, debate, music, and theater. To apply, you must have a taped performance and recommendations.
10 Scholarships for Dance Majors to Perform for in 2021
Start your scholarship search with these dance scholarships. Make sure to submit before the scholarship application deadline and submit all necessary information.
Arts For Life! Scholarship
Wake Forest University Presidential Scholarships for Distinguished Achievement
University of Maine Visual Arts/ Performing Arts Scholarship
George Mason University Dance Talent Scholarship
Hofstra University Grant in Aid Dance Scholarship
Phil Layton Award of Excellence in the Arts
CBCF Souses USA Performing Arts Scholarship
Alma College Performance Scholarship
Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship
Spotlight Awards Program
Is Going to Dance School Worth It?
Dance school could be worth the time and investment. College students often choose to major or minor in dance as part of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program which may provide formal training in technique and practical course work.
You could also use the time to network and build a portfolio of performance work. Schools may attract talent scouts to scheduled events so you could gain some exposure that might help you pursue your career.
According to the NCES in 2019 to 2020, 91% of students at The Julliard School receive scholarships and grant aid to help pay for tuition and reduce the need for student loans. Estimated tuition and fees was $49,260 in 2020 to 2021. So a dance scholarship could help reduce the cost of attending this prestigious dance school.
Once you graduate, there may be various paths to consider with favorable job outlooks. The forecast for Dancers and Choreographers is 6% growth rate through 2029 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2020, the median pay was $19.11 per hour for this type of job.
While you may not need a degree to dance, some dancers and choreographers make a shift to produce and direct. In these roles the formal dance training may be very useful. However, entry level jobs usually require a bachelor’s degree or Master of Fine Arts (MFA). Employment should grow 10% to 2029 and yield average annual salaries of $76,400 per year ($36.73 per hour), reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2020.
List of Dance Scholarships
Check out our list of 809 scholarships for dancers worth $6M.
This scholarship is available for Iowa students who have graduated this year and will be attending an Iowa college. Students must have proven artistic ability in dance, literature, music, theatre, traditional arts, or the visual arts, and major in one of those areas.
This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors and adult students entering their freshman year who reside in the Connecticut Community Foundation’s 21-town service area. Students must have a grade point average of B- or higher and must major in the humanities.
This scholarship is open to incoming and current female undergraduate students who reside in the Connecticut Community Foundation’s 21-town service area. Students must have a grade point average of B- (2.75) or higher, and must pursue an artistic career (preference to those pursuing painting and design).
This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors and adult students entering their freshman year who reside in the Connecticut Community Foundation’s 21-town service area. Students must have a grade point average of B- or higher, and must study music, art, dance, or theatre.
This award is for high school seniors from San Clemente High School in California who plan to study math, science, or art at an accredited four-year university or college.
This award is for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are or will be attending an accredited college or university full-time. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and be planning to or currently pursuing a degree leading to a career in the performing arts.
Maine residents pursuing a major in the performing arts are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must participate in an audition (or interview if majoring in a technical field).
The Matheon Scholarship Fund accepts applications from current high school senior women in Dallas, Texas who plan to major in fine arts, science, or the humanities at a college or university in Texas. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.1 or higher and a combined math/verbal/writing SAT score of 1500 or higher.
Graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate college students who are residents of Glynn County in Georgia are eligible to apply for this award. Studens must have a strong background and/or course of study in the arts and humanities.
