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Scholarships

We help talented, committed dancers keep dancing — so cost is never the reason someone steps off the floor.

Each year the Foundation awards scholarships to dancers who could use a hand. Lessons, shoes, gowns, entry fees, travel — it adds up fast, and a little support at the right moment can change a dancer’s path.

Who can apply

Dancers of any age, style, and level — from youth competitors to adult newcomers. Awards are made on an objective, nondiscriminatory basis.

What it covers

Lessons, competition entries, attire, and travel — the real costs that can put dance out of reach.

How we choose

We look at passion, commitment, and need — not just trophies. Tell us your story; that matters most.

How to apply

How we decide

The rubric we score against — published in full

Every application is scored out of 100 points against these four criteria — the same weights the review committee uses, word for word.

Financial need

40 pts

Household circumstances as attested in the application — the cost of training and competing relative to means. Attestation only: we don't ask for tax documents, and a deliberate misstatement disqualifies the application.

Commitment

30 pts

Training history and consistency — lessons, practice, and competition participation relative to opportunity, not placements. A dancer who has shown up for two years on a tight budget outscores a trophy shelf.

Passion & story

20 pts

Your own words: why dance, what it has cost you to stay in it, and what this scholarship changes. Judged for authenticity, never for writing polish.

Community

10 pts

What you give back — helping younger dancers, volunteering at your studio or events, representing the sport.

Step 1

Apply

One application per dancer per cycle; a parent or guardian applies for dancers under 18. Optional supporting material — a coach's note, a video link — is welcome.

Step 2

Committee review

A three-member committee appointed by the Foundation — a WDF officer, an independent coach or judge, and a community member — scores every application independently against the rubric. A member never scores a dancer from their own studio.

Step 3

Decision

Scores are averaged, the committee recommends, and the Foundation board signs off. Every applicant receives an answer — award, decline, or waitlist.

Step 4

Two cycles a year

Application deadlines are March 15 and September 15, with decisions within 30 days of each deadline.

Transparency: this rubric is the complete evaluation standard — there are no hidden criteria. The Foundation publishes total amounts awarded each year; recipients’ personal and financial details are never published, and recipients may opt out of public recognition entirely.

Apply for a scholarship Apply as an organizer or studio Fund a scholarship

Scholarships are awarded without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. Tax-deductibility of gifts is subject to 501(c)(3) status confirmation.